USAID/ACED Program, ASEZA and INJAZ sign MOU to Conduct Aqaba Tourism Career Fair
On Monday, October 20, 2008, the USAID-funded Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), and INJAZ for the creation of Economic Opportunities for Jordanian Youth signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to design and implement the “INJAZ Aqaba Tourism Career Fair.” The goals of the Career Fair are to build awareness about tourism careers, to provide an opportunity for discussion and understanding of the benefits of tourism in Aqaba, and to increase interaction between the tourism private sector and Aqaba citizens. The MOU was signed by USAID/ACED Program Chief of Party Larry Hearn, ASEZA Deputy Chief Commissioner Dr. Bilal Bashir, and INJAZ CEO Deema Bibi in the presence of the USAID Director of Economic Growth, Stephen Gonyea. ASEZA and the USAID/ACED Program also signed two other agreements: the first MOU formalizes cooperation between ASEZA and the ACED Program to contribute to the development of Community Participation in ASEZ and to expand the conduct of the Neighborhood Development Activity. The second MOU addresses collaboration on the conduct of a Capacity Building Initiative for Civil Society Organizations working in Aqaba. ACED Program is a USAID-funded program benefiting the people and businesses of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. INJAZ was announced as a Jordanian non-profit organization in 2001 by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, after being launched by Save the Children in 1999 with USAID funds. The Program aims to match the educational output of schools, colleges and universities with the requirements of the job market, through enhancing student's entrepreneurship, leadership, business, and soft skills.