USAID supports local economic development in Karak

USAID Jordan Mission Director Mr Jay Knott officially opened the audio guide service outlet at the Karak Castle. accompanied by USAID Jordan officials who were welcomed by members from the local economic council.

Eng. Samer Samman, Local Economic Development Sector Lead, briefed the visitors on the idea of the project and the partnership between easyinfo and the Greater Karak Municipality Employees Association.

The Association itself has been established earlier with the support of the SABEQ Program. This new partnership with easyinfo came as a result of Council members identifying of priority sectors in karak during the Council's strategic planning phase.

USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) supported the establishment of this partnership with easyinfo and funded the service booth and location branding.

The audio guide service devices will be rented by visitors to Karak Castle. The hand held device utilizes a pre-recorded narration in several languages.

Site visitors obtain this user friendly device from a booth positioned outside the castle, and enjoy listening to the history of any numbered location they reach during their tour of the castle, as they take their time, and enjoy the option of a replay of the narration.

Mr Knott expressed his pleasure for SABEQ involvement in this partnership, "I fully support partnerships between the private sector and a community -based society, which I believe provide a strong base of support for the Jordanian economy at large."

He expressed his wish for continued support towards local associations and the implementation of more projects, The Association thanked the USAID for this support that will assist the Association in its income generation activities.

In her brief to the visitors, Ms Hala Zawati, Managing Partner of easyinfo, explained how this new service approach will guarantee the satisfaction of users and visitors, which would positively impact the promotion of tourism in Jordan once they return home.

She added that the service is accompanied by maps which serve to aid tourists who are visiting Jordan individually and not on a guided tour, and is available in four languages - Arabic, English, French, and Spanish, with the possibility of adding three more languages.

The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP 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.