Amman Municipality and Barcelona Municipality Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

The memorandum of understanding aims to enhance cooperation between Amman Municipality and Barcelona Municipality to support institutional development and modernize municipal services management to ensure the improvement of basic public services quality, and stimulate the technical development that will enhance the welfare of citizens in both cities.

Malakawi said that the partnership between Amman and Barcelona embodies an extension of the strong historical relations and solid friendship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Spain.

He confirmed that the signing of the memorandum of understanding reflects a mutual commitment to move forward in building relations based on mutual respect, understanding of common challenges, and working for a more sustainable urban future, and that it is based on the declaration of intent previously signed with the Barcelona City Council, and appreciated the visit of the Mayor of Barcelona to Amman, which represented an important milestone in strengthening bilateral relations and opened new horizons for cooperation.

He added that our practical commitment to implementing joint strategic projects that include urban planning, management of public spaces, and smart urban water management, and accessibility and community participation, confirms Barcelona's status as a strategic partner.

Malakawi pointed out that this cooperation is a new starting point for transferring expertise and turning initiatives into tangible projects that benefit the citizens of both cities.

For her part, the Deputy Mayor of Barcelona said that this agreement embodies a continuation of a close relationship built on mutual trust, exchange of knowledge, and a shared commitment to making cities and citizens the focus of public attention and work, and that renewing our partnership today confirms our belief that cities have an active and key role in facing global challenges.

She added that over the past years, Amman and Barcelona have developed a very productive cooperation in vital areas for the future of our cities such as urban planning, urban resilience, water management, environmental sustainability, and innovation in local public policies, with the aim of ensuring better quality public services for our citizens.

The memorandum of understanding provides for enhancing cooperation between Barcelona and Amman in

areas of accessibility, digital strategies for cities and developing digital transformation programs and tools to facilitate communication and provide services to citizens, the private and public sectors, and projects related to smart cities, and areas of Amman's Green Plan, which includes rainwater management and harvesting, policies to reduce the risks of sudden floods and mitigate their effects, as well as the management and maintenance of green spaces and site coordination.

It also provides for cooperation within the framework of the new strategic plan for Amman Greater Municipality (2027-2031) and the exchange of expertise and projects related to vulnerable and low-income groups with a focus on women and refugees in the eastern areas of Amman, cooperation in cultural, sports and educational initiatives aimed at youth and women, and support and cooperation in joint international initiatives with other cities in the region.