The government has introduced a range of measures to salvage the tourism sector that had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, as more than 2.35 million tourists visited in 2021, far exceeding the expectations.
On the strategic stockpile, the premier said Jordan’s stockpile is “sufficient,” as wheat is forecast to last 16 months, while barely for 12 months.
He also highlighted that his government is keen on regulating market prices.
The 2022 public budget, Khasawneh noted, saw a considerable increase of more than 43 percent to fund more projects.
He expected the national debt would come down from 91.6 percent of GDP in 2021 to 90.9 percent in 2021 due to the reforms in the customs system.
He said that Jordan’s status on “Fitch Ratings,” a credit rating agency, has changed from “negative” to “stable.”
He also said that his government’s measures to check tax evasion has paid off, adding that the international support for Jordan’s response plan to the Syrian refugee crisis has dwindled, as international support comprised a meager 22.8 percent of the plan’s needs in 2021.
He added that the most prominent challenges facing Jordan are unemployment that leads to poverty. Khasawneh emphasised that the only way to tackle the issue is to empower the private sector.
Source: Jordan News Agency