Abu Dhabi delegation reviews Jordan projects

A technical team from the ADFD visited Jordan to review the progress of development projects financed by the UAE government.

Several development and infrastructure projects being built in Jordan with financial support and grants from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) are progressing well.

A technical team from the ADFD visited Jordan to review the progress of development projects financed by the Dh4.6 billion grant allocated by the UAE government. The team reviewed the progress of projects approved for funding between 2013 and 2017 and expressed satisfaction.

Adel Abdullah Al Hosani, director of operations department at the ADFD, said: "The projects implemented by the ADFD in Jordan are in line with the $5 billion grant sanctioned by the GCC countries - in which the UAE's share was $1.25 billion.

"The UAE government has entrusted the ADFD with the management of the projects that are being implemented in cooperation with the Jordanian government. Developed after carefully studying the requirements of the people of Jordan, we are confident that the projects once completed, will go a long way towards improving the standard of living in the country and enhance its economic development."

The technical team inspected work on the rehabilitation of irrigation projects as part of a grant of Dh64 million for the implementation of three projects. Most of the projects are now either complete or nearing completion. The full handover of the projects is expected by the end of 2016.

The delegation also reviewed progress on the implementation of several dams such as Kufranja dam and Al Zarqa'a dam - set for completion by the end of 2017.

The ADFD team also toured renewable energy projects and storage facilities for petroleum that had been allocated Dh770 million - with handover deadlines of end of 2017.

The delegates were also briefed about the progress of 15 projects in the transportation sector, valued at Dh683 million. While 11 projects are complete, the remaining are set for completion as per the pre-agreed schedule.

The technical delegation also reviewed the progress of the Amman development corridor project that cost Dh319 million and is set for completion in 2016. Constructed with an allocated Dh117 million, this project is now complete.?

An amount of Dh259 million was allocated to finance silos in Al Juwaidah and Aqaba. These are set for completion in 2018.?

The ADFD delegation inspected several schools being financed by the fund. Eighty-five schools are being established for Dh33.7 million across cities in Jordan. Some of the schools are in the first stage of completion. The entire project is scheduled for handover by the end of 2017.

An amount of Dh474 million was allocated to develop public universities in Jordan. Twenty-two projects are being implemented in nine Jordanian government universities.

The delegation also monitored the progress of the sports complex in Tafila Technical University. The team surveyed the progress of Al Balqa Applied University project and the College of Medicine - both set to be complete by mid-2017.

An amount of Dh33 million was allocated to finance 11 projects in Jordanian colleges. The delegation noted that most projects were complete and the remaining are set for completion by the end of 2016.

- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com