Director General of the Department of Antiquities (DoA) Fadi Balawi emphasized the significance of the alliance between Jordan and the European Union (EU) and the progress attained through this partnership.

The remark came during a meeting organized Sunday by the DoA and the Jordan Society for Scientific Research to go over the achievements of ICT Mediterranean platform for UNESCO cultural heritage (iHERITAGE) in Jordan, which is an EU-funded project of the European Neighborhood Instrument Cross Border Cooperation in the Mediterranean (ENI CBC MED).

The project, which includes six countries, helped promote Jordan's tourism by creating a 3D movie about Petra city and provide jobs for youth and women.

Balawi explained that utilizing technology to interpret and preserve the cultural significance of archaeological sites can aid in documenting important information, improving site management, and even introducing new offerings to these sites.

President of the JSSR Reda Khawaldeh said they will cooperate with the DoA to promote the project through exhibitions and digital platforms, where products will be displayed to attract international, regional, and Jordanian companies.

The project will yield numerous outcomes, with the primary one being the creation of companies that can attract investments. Additionally, it will generate employment opportunities for young men and women who have been struggling to secure jobs.

According to Esmat Karadsheh, the Coordinator of the EU's CBC program, there are currently 80 projects being carried out in the region. Out of these, 56 projects worth 23 million euros are being implemented in Jordan.

He added that the EU will next month launch a regional cooperation program for the Mediterranean with a budget of 234 million euros to support new projects across different sectors.