Setting Priorities
While it appears unenthused about taking the simple steps needed to create a sovereign investment fund, the government has been more than happy to burn through foreign aid and rack up debt with little or nothing to show for it….
Category: Economy
Agriculture Primed for Turnaround
Jordanian farmers are set to benefit from new export routes and a drive to incorporate thousands of Syrian refugees into the domestic workforce. Oxford Business Group Despite high domestic production, food exports continue to be hampered by the closure of…
Making the Pledges Count
Jordan was thrown a lifeline at February’s international donor conference for Syrian refugees. But for the billions of dollars pledged to make a lasting impact, they must be spent on genuine long-term economic development. By Osama Al Sharif We could all…
Jordan Boosts Healthcare to Meet Demand
Progress on two new medical facilities, located in Irbid and Amman, could add much-needed capacity to Jordan’s health sector as it copes with rising demand for healthcare services. At the start of the year, the government began the pre-qualification process…
Perhaps the Sky isn’t Falling
A rational evaluation of the state of the global economy is needed to counter the effect of the doom and gloom merchants causing jitters in markets. By Khalid W. Wazani Although in economic theory, prices are the main determinant of…
Restoring Our Humanity
A disturbing report by local NGO Tamkeen, which seeks to improve social protection for marginalized groups and victims of human rights violations, revealed that many migrant domestic workers in Jordan are having their rights violated. Despite some important legislative reforms…
Upbeat Outlook for Jordan’s Economy
The Kingdom’s economy performed well last year despite regional unrest, and its upward trajectory looks set to continue in 2016. Steady reform and targeted growth bolstered investor confidence in Jordan’s economy in 2015, as weaker oil prices helped support a…
Spotting Opportunities
Everyone agrees the coming year will be a tough one for the region’s economies. But some countries will fare much better than others because their decision makers were bold enough to seek out new opportunities and act upon them. By…
Time to Build
Jordan has signed multimillion dollar funding deals for a wide array of new infrastructure projects. But not everyone is happy about who gets to build them. Jordan has inked more than $600 million worth of funding agreements in recent months,…
Budget 2016: The Numbers Don’t Add Up
The forecasts contained within the government’s recently-unveiled 2016 budget bill fail to convince. By Khalid W. Wazani The government has yet again built a budget based on unrealistic assumptions. In 2016, the government expects a real growth rate of 3.7…