USAID and Yarmouk University support Jordanian design students

The celebration took place at Yarmouk University and was attended by faculty members, USAID officials, student family members, and guests.

This initiative comes as part of the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) 'Pack Me' initiative that aims to promote the design culture in Jordan and targets designers, packaging businesses and manufacturers in a bid to enhance their marketing performance through local talent, innovation and inspiration.

The Award is designed to recognize aspiring and the most promising design talents while enhancing the awareness of outstanding and sustainable achievements in improving design and its importance.

The competition attracted fifty design students from whom three were selected as winners in the competition. The selection was done by an independent committee of design educators, leading practicing designers, and prominent business leaders who initially prepared a shortlist from which award winners were picked.

"Organizing this competition comes to incorporate design into innovative moves towards advancing the society as a whole, and to promote young designers on a national level. This will help improve designers' moral and empower them. USAID Jordan through its Economic Development Program (SABEQ) also supports efforts that provide work opportunities for Jordanians, especially fresh graduates,"

said Dr Ruba Jaradat, from the USAID Economic Growth Office in her opening speech at the ceremony in Yarmouk University.

The packaging sector has been a major receiver of USAID Economic Development Program (SABEQ) attention whereby a series of good packaging and printing practices have been proposed to enable its companies pass international GMP audits applied on printing companies and to provide the Jordanian market with its products.

The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by Bearing Point, Inc. and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms.

By supporting improvements in the business environments and providing assistance to expand innovation and productivity in Jordanian businesses, it supports the main objective of building up the private sector as a powerful engine of economic growth.