Amman: Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) Governor Adel Sharkas said Jordan's economy grew by 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 2.7% a year earlier, attributing the improvement to government measures and the resilience of the national economy.
According to Jordan News Agency, Sharkas stated that the first-quarter growth exceeded the World Bank's 2026 forecast of 2.6%, reflecting the effectiveness of economic policies and ongoing reforms. He emphasized the government's role in supporting economic activity by accelerating economic programs, improving the business environment, settling over JD280 million in arrears owed to private-sector companies, and introducing measures to support key sectors.
Sharkas mentioned that the growth was widely spread across various sectors, with agriculture leading at 6.8%, followed by manufacturing at 5.3%, mining and quarrying at 4.7%, and electricity at 4.3%. Additionally, wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage, as well as financial and insurance activities, also recorded growth.
He highlighted that Jordan's foreign currency reserves reached $27.4 billion, sufficient to cover approximately 9.5 months of imports, while inflation averaged 1.88% during the first five months of 2026.
Sharkas further noted that remittances from Jordanians working abroad rose by 13.3% to $1.6 billion in the first four months of 2026. Exports increased by 1.6% to about $3 billion in the first quarter, and tourism revenue reached approximately $2.8 billion during the first five months of the year despite regional challenges.
He concluded that the latest figures demonstrate the resilience of the Jordanian economy and strengthen confidence in its growth prospects despite ongoing regional and global uncertainties.