AMMAN (JT) -- Spain will open a technical cooperation office in Amman this year, under a directive issued by the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs last month.
The substantial increase in cooperation with Jordan over the last few years was one of the main reasons behind the ministry's decision to establish a technical office here, according to a Spanish embassy statement.
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI), which is attached to the Spanish ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, is in charge of implementing Spanish Official Aid for Development, according to the statement.
Its main goal is to contribute to the economic growth and the social, cultural, political and institutional progress of the beneficiary countries, with full respect for the principles of defence and promotion of human rights and sustainable development, with equal participation of men and women.
The main sectors of bilateral cooperation have been health, agriculture and restoration of heritage.
Social development, the environment, promoting social dialogue and support of civil society are new areas of common interest on which new projects will be implemented, the statement said.
On the cultural side, annual scholarships programmes have been available since 2002, with more than 110 Jordanian students benefitting in the last four years.
Around 50 of these beneficiaries were granted PhD and master's scholarships with a maximum duration of three years, while the rest were students of the Spanish language and professionals in the field of Hispanic studies, who were granted three-month summer scholarships.
In addition, around 116 Jordanian experts from different official institutions participated in seminars that were held in Spain over the past fours years, under the Azahar Programme.
The programme, targeting the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean basin, is designed to make the development of local populations compatible with environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.
The last of these seminars, devoted to the sustainable management of Petra, was held in Valencia in November 2006 and was attended by 25 Jordanian experts.
© Jordan Times 2007
