Germany has allocated $138m as additional aid that target “substantially important sectors for Jordan”, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation said Saturday, reported Al-Bawaba.

The assistance addresses the water and sewage disposal, environment, renewable energy, solid waste management, and vocational training and technical education sectors.

The German ambassador, Birgitta Maria Siefker-Eberle, highlighted her country’s deep relations with Jordan, stressing that Germany is ready to continue supporting the Kingdom, especially in such high priority sectors.

According to the Jordan Times Saleh Kharabsheh, the ministry’s secretary general, and Andreas Jess of the German ministry of development and economic cooperation signed the minutes of meetings, along with concerned ministries and institutions.

The assistance comes in the form of soft loans, grants and technical assistance, with additional funds to be channelled through UNICEF as grants to support Syrian refugees and host communities in the fields of water, sewage disposal and education.

Germany has doubled, for the past few years, its annual grants to Jordan because of the regional conditions and in an attempt to bring an equilibrium between development and humanitarian assistance, the ministry said.

Fakhoury underlined the importance of Jordan’s strategic partnership with Germany that serves the interests of both countries, thanking Berlin for its support.