(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Aqaba, Aug 29 (Petra) –– The Jordanian government on Monday received the 2nd and last wheat shipment of 50,000 metric tons this year as part of the "Food Program for Progress" of the US Department of Agriculture, according to a statement by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
With this shipment, Jordan had received a total of 100,000 metric tons of US wheat in 2017 at a value of $18,7 million, it said.
The ceremony was attended by Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, Minister of Water Hazem El Nasser and the Acting Deputy US Ambassador Jim Barnhardt and government officials from both sides.
During the ceremony, Fakhoury noted that the grant (for the 4th time since 2012) was a recognition of the comprehensive reform efforts being spearheaded by His Majesty King Abdullah, the financial and economic challenges facing Jordan, and to contribute to alleviating the burden of hosting Syrian refugees in the Kingdom.
The grant will contribute to enhancing Jordan's strategic stock of wheat, said the minister.
Jordan has agreed with the US to use the proceeds from the sale of wheat for the implementation of the project Alshidiya - Alhasa / Amman Phase one in the water sector, according to the minister.
Fakhoury said that Jordan benefitted two wheat grants in 2011-2012 worth $36 million, noting that Jordan was an exception as the US wheat grants are usually allocated to the poorest countries.
The two grants have contributed to the Kingdom's strategic wheat stock and also to the implementation of the Karak dam project, a strategic project in the Jordan Valley region, according to Fakhoury.
Jordan has also benefitted from another wheat grant in 2015 with a value of $25.1 million, contributing to implementing several priority development projects that were listed in the state budget in the water and agriculture sectors, in addition to supporting the General Department of Food and Drugs, said the minister.
On behalf of the Jordanian Government, the Minister expressed appreciation for the US support to Jordan, which reflects the advanced level of the US-Jordanian relations and strategic partnership.
He also expressed the government's keenness on further enhancing the bilateral ties between the two countries in all fields, which will contribute to supporting the reform and development plans.
For his part, Water Minister Hazem El Nasser said that the ministry will use the grant proceeds to increase the annual amount of water pumped to Amman by 20 million cubic metres.
Barnhardt expressed satisfaction with the grant, which will finance projects to develop new water sources and the agriculture sector.
The Foreign Agriculture Service affiliated with the US department of Agriculture has provided four wheat grants to Jordan during the past five years.
The grants were in 2011 at a value of $14 million, in 2012 worth $12 million, in 2015 at $25 million and in 2017 at a value of $18 million. SS
29/8/2017 - 03:50:27 PM
MENAFN2908201701170000ID1095787883
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.