Jordan, US Sign Grant Agreement

The US has granted Jordan, a staunch Middle East ally, an extra USD 50 million in aid to bolster its economy, bringing total assistance this year to over USD 500 million, officials said. After the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Washington doubled its annual grants to Jordan. US ambassador to Jordan David Hale said the money would go to finance major projects in water, tourism and schools along with easing Jordan's USD 8.4 billion foreign debt burden. The grant will be used for the construction of the Northern Governorates Water Supply distribution system, the construction and rehabilitation of schools, and greater employment in the tourism field. Since 1952, U.S. economic assistance to Jordan totaled more than $4.7 billion.