Recent data shows that an economic recovery is underway in Jordan. The GDP is expected to grow in 2022 at 2.4 percent in real terms, which is a slight improvement over the level of growth in 2021. The recovery, albeit slow, is a recovery and not a regress or a decline in economic activity and can be a cause of optimism, even if cautious optimism, thus replacing whatever negativity persists.
In terms of fiscal policy and public debt, tax revenues increased by JD54.8 million to reach JD970.2 million in the first two months of 2022, and Jordan’s debt fell by JD244 million from its level in 2021. If the trend continues, the debt to GDP ratio can be expected to fall significantly this year, which would free the budget to expand the capital expenditure and increase investment in the country’s infrastructure, education, and health.
Remittances from Jordanians working in GCC countries have increased by 1 percent and may be expected to increase further as the Gulf economies continue to gain due to the upsurge in oil prices. The GCC economies are forecast to grow by 6.4 percent this year. The impact will undoubtedly be felt in Jordan in the form of aid and remittances from these countries.
Inflation is expected to be around 2.8 percent this year, which is much lower than that felt worldwide. The effect of the Russian-Ukrainian war on Jordan may be diluted somewhat regarding the cost of wheat and energy. The government has already purchased the equivalent of a 13-month supply of wheat, and oil has been bought through long-term contracts which will safeguard the economy from further upward fluctuations, should they occur.
Foreign reserves are at an all-time high. The current level of reserves is around $18 billion, which will cover 9.5 months of imports. This means that in the implausible case Jordan does not receive any foreign currency from exports, tourism, aid, and remittances, the Central Bank of Jordan has enough reserves to cover over nine months of imports. Note that the suggested level of foreign currency reserves is a two-month worth of imports.
Additionally, tourism was up 253 percent in the first four months of this year relative to the same period last year. Investment in the first quarter of 2022 rose by 107 percent relative to the same period last year, and foreign direct investment has increased over seven-fold from last year.
Overall, the numbers show an improvement at all levels of the economy, which, as stated earlier, calls for optimism. Hopefully this optimistic will translate into a bigger growth rate and further thrust the economy toward recovery.
https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-36/Opinion/About-the-current-economic-recovery-17062
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