IMF takes note of Jordan’s improved business climate

IMF takes note of Jordan’s improved business climate

AMMAN “” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its 2019 Article IV mission to Jordan, recommending that the Kingdom focus on maintaining economic stability, reducing fiscal imbalances, boosting growth, creating jobs and strengthening social protection in the coming years.

Jordanian authorities have taken important steps to improve the business climate, placing the Kingdom as one of the world's top three improvers, according to the World Bank's Doing Business Indicators, the IMF said on Monday in its end-of-mission statement.

The mission, led by Chris Jarvis, visited Amman from November 11-20 to conduct the 2019 Article IV Consultation, and review progress under Jordan's extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility.

"The mission had productive discussions with the Jordanian authorities. They covered recent economic developments, the economic outlook and risks to the economy,“ Jarvis was quoted in the statement as saying.

The fund said that Jordan's priorities for the coming years are to maintain economic stability, reduce fiscal imbalances, boost growth, create jobs and strengthen social protection.

As these goals cannot be achieved fully in the space of the few remaining months of the current IMF-supported programme, discussions have begun on a new three-year programme that could be supported by the IMF, he said.

Jarvis added that the