Cabinet discusses response to Royal letter on economic planning

AMMAN — The Cabinet, in a session held on Thursday and headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, discussed ways to translate the Royal letter instructing the government to develop a clear future vision for the Jordanian economy in the next 10 years. 

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Ibrahim Saif provided the Cabinet with a preliminary vision to work on the
March 14 letter according to a comprehensive framework that reinforces the country’s financial and monetary positions, improves the national economy’s competitiveness and promotes values of productivity and self-reliance. 

His Majesty told the government in the letter that this difficult economic situation has led to an increase in the deficit and debt over the past few years. The implications of these difficult economic conditions have left their mark on the standard of living our citizens enjoy, he said. 

The King said in the letter to the government that the number one priority and foremost challenge citizens face is how to improve their living conditions and to secure better jobs that provide them and their families with a decent living, and hope for a better future. 

“These are concerns that I witnessed first-hand during my ongoing field visits. Price hikes and financial pressures our citizens face today are the hard realities we need to address. Accordingly, the state — in all its institutions — must provide socio-economic solutions and programmes to alleviate these burdens.”