Consultancy Takes On ED Efforts in Jordan and Serbia M anagement and technology consulting firm BearingPoint has been awarded contracts by the United States Agency for International Development to boost economic development projects in Jordan and Serbia.    In Jordan, BearingPoint will implement a Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion & Quality Program (SABEQ). The purpose of SABEQ is to spur economic growth and reduce poverty in the country by increasing the number of jobs available to Jordanians and enhancing the competitiveness of Jordanian firms.    The SABEQ program is the cornerstone of USAID and Jordan's economic development growth efforts and is designed to provide services in four areas:    • Improve financial integrity, oversight and broaden capital markets,    • Expand trade and investment,    • Remove Government of Jordan constraints to achieving private sector competitiveness, and    • Enhance productivity.    The Serbia contract continues USAID's economic reform efforts, and BearingPoint will help strengthen Serbia's financial sector and public finance infrastructure. Financial sector reforms focus on strengthening the banking, insurance and private pension systems. Public finance initiatives will focus on enhancing Serbia's tax administration and social security systems. BearingPoint has been involved in Serbian economic reform since 2001. World Cement Consumption Growth to Continue T he Portland Cement Association forecasts that worldwide cement consumption will rise 5.5 percent in 2007, following a 5.6- percent rise in 2006. China leads the way with an 8.5- percent growth forecast. The report cites growth conditions in the developing world, particularly China, as playing a critical role in consumption trends. About 20 percent of cement consumption growth will occur outside of China and the industrialized world, mostly in other Asian countries, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South America.