Jordan

There are several reasons why external aid plays such an important role in Jordan’s economy. The country’s modest geographic footprint and dearth of natural resources are chief among them, as is Jordan’s position between Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. There are myriad geopolitical reasons why regional and global donors have determined that a stable Jordan is...

It is hard to overstate the importance of the role played by Jordan’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the wider economy. The nation’s historical role as safe haven in a politically turbulent region has seen it welcome migrants from far and wide, most notably Palestine, Iraq and – more recently – Syria. Many have brought their capital with them, and deployed...

Jordan’s proximity to Iraq is of interest to the nation’s economic planners for obvious reasons. The troubled neighbour boasts proven oil reserves of 150bn barrels as of 2013, according to BP’s “Statistical Review of World Energy”, which are the third largest in the region, behind Saudi Arabia and Iran. With a population estimated by the World Bank at 33m, Iraq...

The kingdom’s economic journey from its emergence as a new state in 1946 to the regional business and financial hub that it is today is a remarkable one. Over this brief span Jordan has undergone a number of developmental phases, from an initial focus on massive public investment in basic utilities, health and education to the growth of an industrial and manufacturing...