Remarks in May 2006
Delivered by Mr. Shigenobu Kato, Ambassador of Japan, on May 28, 2006 on the occasion of the opening ceremony of Dead Sea Panoramic Complex and Dead Sea Parkway
His Excellency, Mr. Husni Abu Gheida, Minister of Public Works and Housing,
His Excellency, Mr. Muneer Nassar, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities,
Her Highness Sharifa Nofa bint Nasser,
His Excellency, Mr. Akel Biltaji,
His Excellency, Dr.Wuanas Harashe, Governor of Madaba
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Japan continues to regard highly its friendship with Jordan, and so it gives me great pleasure to be here today, on behalf of the Government and People of Japan, for the official opening ceremony of the Dead Sea Parkway and the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex, under the Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Their Excellencies, Mr. Husni Abu Gheida, Minister of Public Works and Housing and Mr. Muneer Nassar, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, for hosting today’s memorable ceremony.
I am especially honored by your esteemed presence, here this evening. This ceremony marks one of the fruits of cordial cooperation between two friendly countries.
The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has formulated the National Tourism Strategy 2004-2010 aimed at achieving sustainable economic development, industrial diversification and the redistribution of socio-economic benefits for the people of this country. This development plan recognized the importance of the tourism industry that represents the country’s major foreign currency earning together with other related industries. It acknowledges that this sector can play a significant role in promoting economic development by encouraging the meaningful diversification of the economy.
Jordan is a treasury of cultural heritages of the world history. Tremendous beautiful places attests to the prosperity of Jordan, such as certainly include the world heritage site of Petra. However, the City of Amman and its vicinity has further expected a hub according to its important location and functions with more effort with tourism development promotion, although the City of Amman is the largest and most important gateway to Jordan where is well-known in world wide.
It is with this in mind, that the Government of Japan is pleased to support the request for assistance to realize the Tourism Sector Development Project of Jordan, that would focus on Seven Sub-Project including the Dead Sea Parkway and the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex.
The Government of Japan has approved a soft loan for the sum of Seven Billion One Hundred and Ninety Nine Million Yen (JYE 7,199,000,000), approximately Forty Eight Million Jordanian Dinars (JD 48,000,000) at current exchange rate to promote the Tourist Sector Development Project as a whole.
This loan has been financed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) together with a technical assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which conducted the detailed design and preparation of tender document for the project in a grant base from March 1999 to July 2000.
This Complex with Parkway impact on the tourism industry promised to be significant. Not only would the tourism environment in the City of Amman and its vicinities, but the facilities would also enhance and increase the tourism related employment opportunities and income for the people of Jordan.
Transportations, Hotels and restaurants and all those activities involved in the tourism industry should also benefit from the increased in international visitors. Because of that tourism of the City of Amman and its vicinities provide a clear guide for many international visitors before they will start to their destination to enjoy every treasury in Jordan. Of course domestic visitors would be equal beneficiaries through these facilities.
The Government of Japan is sincerely grateful to work on such a great project together with Jordan. The successful completion of this endeavor means that Jordan would be given another opportunity to enjoy and utilize these new facilities after today’s opening for many years to come at maximum level through cooperation between the authorities and many people involved in the tourism industry in Jordan.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this juncture, I feel a peace and stabilities in Jordan while overlooking the Dead Sea with a magnificent panoramic view to the area, as well as strong hope of lasting peace achieved as earliest time beyond our horizon like here too. Once a peace is finally realized in this region, so richly endowed with the historical legacies and with the gifted peoples, there will be flood of people, capital and services coming in search of economic opportunities and of sharing in the sights and sounds of their great past. The Japanese will continue together with the Jordanian to do our utmost effort to support every effort by our neighboring friends to co-existence and co-prosperity.
In closing, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and all who involved and contributed towards the realization of this projects. I also wish to thank the people of Jordan, and in particular those citizens who live within the vicinity of this parkway and complex for their cooperation and patience during construction period of this project.
The Government of Japan is pleased to continue contributing to the socio-economic welfare of this country, and looks forward to future opportunities for cooperation with Jordan in the bonds of friendship and mutual respect.
On the 60th Independence of Jordan, I am honored to express sincere congratulations and send my best wishes for prosperity and welfare to His Majesty King of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and the Royal Family in Jordan, and to all of dear people of Jordan.
Thank you.
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