Press Release Public Affairs Section -
Press Office Embassy of the United States of America -
Amman Tel: 962-6-590 6000 Fax: 962-6-592-0121
jordan.usembassy.gov Sept 24, 2013 U.S.

Ambassador Commends Human Development Partnership at the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum Amman -- U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Stuart Jones told a standing room only audience at the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum that he is proud of the United States’ collaboration with Jordan in human development efforts across the Kingdom.

The Ambassador highlighted the United States' partnership with Jordan in human development and educational programming. As he said during his remarks: “when I think about our partnership, I think the most important aspect is our collaboration in human development.” He observed how joint investments and efforts with Jordan have resulted in significant school improvements benefitting more than 250,000 students across the Kingdom.

The Ambassador also highlighted the way these programs affect individuals and communities. For example, he shared the story of a young student, who thanks to the Access English language scholarship program, learned English, which she uses today at her university.

He also explained how construction and equipment assistance coupled with training in rural hospitals is helping decrease infant mortality in areas such as south Shouneh. Ambassador Jones noted that a neo-natal ward he visited last spring “has saved the lives of more than 30 infants in two years.” The Ambassador illustrated the ways the U.S. has collaborated with the King Abdullah II Development Fund to help aspiring Jordanian entrepreneurs through the Oasis 500 boot camp program.

The Ambassador also commended Talal Abu-Ghazaleh’s “tremendous contribution” to business education in Jordan. The Ambassador underscored the importance of investment in human capacity building saying: “We are proud to invest in the people of Jordan.

And we are investing in education, training, health, and work force development.” After the talk, participants engaged the Ambassador in a lively dialogue on human capacity and education. The Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum, which sponsored the talk, was established to provide the business community with a platform for debate and assessment of business and economy in Jordan and around the world.

The Forum regularly hosts a range of experts and leaders in their fields to discuss economic, cultural and educational development in the Arab world. Most recently, the forum has been dedicating its efforts on education.

• For more information on the TAG Knowledge Forum, please click here

• For more information on USAID-Jordan, please click here

• Here is a link featuring an Access program Graduate: http://youtu.be/6zYrMIxz9Kw