The Jordanian and Japanese governments on Saturday signed memoranda of understanding worth $4.8 million presented to the Kingdom to support and implement the third phase of a project to enhance security protection at border areas, as part of the Economic and Social Development Programme.

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Nasser Shraideh and Japan’s Ambassador in Jordan Shimazaki Kaoru signed the memos on behalf of respective governments, according to a ministry statement.

Shraideh said that providing this grant is part of the efforts to enhance security protection at border areas through providing technical devices and equipment to areas that were not included in the first two phases of the project that were funded by two Japanese grants with a total of 1.5 billion Japanese yen (some $6.13 million). 

The minister expressed appreciation for the continuous Japanese support to the Kingdom and for Tokyo’s understanding of the economic and social challenges facing Jordan as a result of regional crises.

In this regard, he said that the Kingdom since 2009 has received $1.7 billion from Japan, including $626.02 million as grants and the other amount as soft loans, in addition to technical assistance presented from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Shraideh also said that offering and sustaining foreign aid to Jordan reflects the level of respect and appreciation of the international community to the Kingdom and its regional and global role under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, as well as understanding of donor countries to the development needs of Jordan resulting from regional crises and their impacts on Jordan.  

In his remarks at the ceremony, Shimazaki said: "Ten years have passed since the Syrian Crisis broke out in March, 2011. Japan has been highly appreciating Jordan’s generous humanitarian support to the Syrian refugees in spite of its own economic and social constraints,” according to an embassy statement. 

"I strongly hope that the new grant aid will support Jordan’s full-scale efforts to counter terrorism and extremism by contributing to enhancing the security in Jordan,” the ambassador added.