‘Imposing new taxes is Jordanian sovereign decision’ — IMF

AMMAN — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports Jordan’s efforts to implement tax reforms, IMF Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Jihad Azour said, adding that a wider popular participation in taxpaying contributes to the success of such reforms.

Replying to questions by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, at a recent conference in Rabat, Azour stressed that imposing any new taxes is a sovereign decision by the government and that IMF only provides the government with consultation services.

He added that Jordan is among the countries that were most affected by regional circumstances, and hosted one of the biggest numbers of refugees.

Such circumstances had various impacts on the Kingdom’s economy, which required an economic reform programme to lower budget deficit and achieve economic stability through providing more investment opportunities to the private sector.