The Jordanian government signed a US$254 million grant agreement with its Japanese counterpart on Wednesday, to enhance the financial situation and support development policies to reform public services in the Kingdom.

According to Petra News Agency, the agreement was signed by Imad Fakhoury, Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and the Japanese Ambassador to Jordan, Shuichi Sakurai, and the chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Amman.

Mr. Fakhoury said that the loan is the third that supports the general budget in order to address challenges that face the Kingdom due to the influx of a large number of Syrian refugees.

According to official figures, Jordan has received assistance from Japan totalling $1.021 billion since 1999, $491.2 million of which has been in the form of grants, and the rest as soft loans.