American Ambassador Visits Aqaba, Tours USAID Projects
June 18, 2009
AQABA - American Ambassador Stephen Beecroft underscored today U.S. support for increased citizen participation in developing their communities at the Neighborhood Development Activity (NDA) Conference, which is being held in Aqaba under the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Aqaba Community and Economic Development project. While at the conference as part of a two-day visit to Aqaba, the Ambassador addressed local community leaders and volunteers. He commended them for improving their neighborhoods and increasing their civic engagement. The Ambassador also pointed out that this year, the United States and Jordan are celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic and development partnership between the two countries.
After his meeting with conference participants, Ambassador Beecroft toured the 10th Area School Secondary Comprehensive School for Girls, which is one of three new schools in Aqaba being constructed by USAID as part of a six-year, $157 million School Construction and Rehabilitation project to reduce overcrowding in classrooms, decrease the number of rented school buildings, and improve the learning environment in public schools. He also visited the Fatima Az-Zahra Basic Girls’ School and Princess Zein Al Sharaf Girls School, which are two of 13 schools in Aqaba being renovated and expanded by USAID under the School Construction and Rehabilitation project.
Ambassador Beecroft then toured the Aqaba Wastewater Treatment facilities, constructed with funding from USAID, and the nearby wastewater reuse project. Jordan and the U.S. co-financed this $37.5 million project to rehabilitate the water supply system in Jordan’s Red Sea port city. In addition, USAID provided $1.4 million to fund part of the restoration work needed to repair the damage of the wastewater plant as a result of a severe flood in February 2006. Ambassador Beecroft applauded the strong partnership between Jordan and the United States in the water and environment sector.
Following meetings with ASEZA officials, the Ambassador visited the Aqaba International Industrial Estate (AIIE), constructed with funding from USAID and completed in 2003. AIIE fosters the development of serviced light and medium industrial property as a mechanism to increase private sector-led investment and promotion.
On Friday, June 19, Ambassador Beecroft will inaugurate the second annual American Village English Summer Program, a joint project between the Jordanian Ministry of Education Directorate in Aqaba, the Regional English Language Office at the American Embassy in Amman, AMIDEAST, and the Peace Corps.
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