Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06AMMAN1479, TRIDE Hits Its Stride

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06AMMAN1479.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06AMMAN1479 2006-03-01 12:44 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Amman
VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #1479/01 0601244
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011244Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8525
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 4043
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 3748
UNCLAS AMMAN 001479 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EIND EINV ECIN PREL IS JO
SUBJECT: TRIDE Hits Its Stride 
 
Ref: 2005 Amman 7327 
 
1.  Summary: Senior management from the Trilateral 
Industrial Research and Development (TRIDE) Foundation met 
Jordanian and USG representatives in Amman on February 20 
for a strategic planning session.  The productive and upbeat 
meeting inaugurated the Ministry of Industry and Trade as 
the lead Jordanian partner in TRIDE.  Participants discussed 
TRIDE's $1 million budget, past projects, current proposals, 
and long-term goals.  A TRIDE Executive Committee meeting is 
tentatively scheduled for Jerusalem in March.  End summary. 
 
Next Meeting Scheduled For March 2006 in Jerusalem 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
2.  This was the first TRIDE meeting since Jordan's $333,333 
contribution last December which completed the second 
tranche of TRIDE's financing to a total of one million 
dollars.  During the meeting, participants agreed to hold 
the next TRIDE meeting in March in Jerusalem. 
 
Ministry of Industry and Trade Now in Charge 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
3.  Operational management of TRIDE in Jordan is now firmly 
in the hands of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). 
Jordan's senior contact for TRIDE, MOIT Secretary General 
Montaser Oklah, said Jordan strongly supports TRIDE and said 
that TRIDE is now "home" at the MOIT, where it belongs. 
TRIDE was previously managed by the Ministry of Planning and 
International Cooperation.  Oklah said that Jordan sees 
great benefits from TRIDE, particularly in technology 
transfer, which Jordan badly needs. 
 
Pharmaceutical Project Looks Promising 
-------------------------------------- 
 
4.  Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of TRIDE, 
presented background on TRIDE, and moved quickly to the 
current situation.  TRIDE has a $1 million budget, and has 
at least one excellent proposal in development.  The project 
would be between an Israeli, an American and a Jordanian 
firm for an R&D effort on production of antibiotics. 
Yudilevich likes the fact that each company has a clear and 
specific role in the project.  As currently structured, this 
proposal would require $900,000 from TRIDE, nearly all of 
TRIDE's budget.  Oklah said it was premature to make a 
decision on this particular project, and added that the 
financial sustainability of TRIDE is a key concern for 
Jordan.  He said that he doesn't want gaps in TRIDE's 
projects; he wants to see a smooth stream of projects, not 
an intermittent one here and there.  Oklah suggested, and 
Yudilevich agreed, that the upcoming TRIDE meeting would be 
the appropriate forum for further discussion. 
 
Jordan Wants Clear Guidelines and Fast Decisions 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5.  On the subject of proposal review and approval, Oklah 
said that clear, systematic evaluation guidelines and a 
streamlined process would help enable fast decision-making 
on project proposals.  Yudilevich said he would take that on 
as an action item.  Yudilevich also noted that the TRIDE 
Executive Committee has the ultimate authority in funding 
decisions, and that it operates by consensus.  Each member, 
he said, would in effect have a veto over any project 
proposal. 
 
TRIDE's Future - Seeking Deeper Pockets 
--------------------------------------- 
 
6.  Yudilevich spent some time discussing the future of 
TRIDE, specifically its level of funding.  He advocated a 
larger endowment for TRIDE.  This financial cushion would 
smooth out the ups and downs of the current funding 
mechanism and help make TRIDE a success.  It would to enable 
TRIDE to "market" its services, to be able to commit to a 
steady stream of projects, to weather the inevitable 
failures, and to wait for the repayments that can be years 
away.  Yudilevich said he was under no illusions that this 
funding would be easy to obtain, and said he was open to new 
ideas. 
 
Jordan Rep Looks to Private Sector 
---------------------------------- 
 
7.  Speaking frankly, Oklah said that supplying those kinds 
of funds will be "a problem" for the GoJ.  He recommended 
mobilizing private sector support, since business would be 
the primary beneficiary of TRIDE.  While acknowledging 
Oklah's suggestion, Yudilevich noted that there is always 
cost-sharing in TRIDE projects: according to TRIDE's rules, 
TRIDE will fund only up to 50% of the projected R&D costs of 
a project. 
 
TRIDE to Develop a "White Paper" To Make Case for Funding 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
8.  Oklah asked for supporting information and data on TRIDE 
to help him make a successful case to the Cabinet for 
additional funding for TRIDE.  He added that "results on the 
ground" would also be an important factor in persuading the 
Cabinet to provide additional funding.  Yudilevich said he 
would prepare a "White Paper" to make the case for 
additional funding. 
 
Participants 
------------ 
 
9.  Jordanian Participants: 
-- Montaser Oklah, Secretary General, Ministry of Industry 
and Trade (MOIT) 
-- Bilal Hmoud, MOIT, Industrial Development Director 
-- Mohammed Al-Khaldi, Head, Small and Medium-sized 
Enterprise Section 
-- Maha Tutunji, Managing Director, Pharmaceutical Research 
Unit, Royal Scientific Society 
 
Israeli Participants: 
-- Danny Nevo, Charge d'Affaires, Embassy of Israel, Amman 
-- Dov Hershberg, retiring Executive Director, US-Israel- 
Jordan Trilateral Industrial Research and Development 
Foundation (TRIDE) 
-- Eitan Yudilevich, incoming Executive Director, TRIDE 
Foundation 
-- Uri Attir, Programs Director, TRIDE Foundation 
 
USG Participants: 
-- Richard Eason, Economics Counselor, Embassy Amman 
-- Robert Tansey, Environment, Science, Technology and 
Health (ESTH) Officer, Embassy Tel Aviv 
-- Jock Whittlesey, Regional ESTH Officer, Embassy Amman 
 
10.  Comment:  There is genuine enthusiasm for TRIDE in 
Jordan.  Jordan is ready to engage and has a clear picture 
of both its needs and its limitations, knowledge which will 
be critical in making TRIDE an ongoing venture. 
 
11.  Embassy Tel Aviv cleared this cable. 
 
HALE