Amman: Economists have described recent remarks by World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde as an important international endorsement of Jordan's ability to withstand and adapt to successive economic and geopolitical shocks in one of the world's most volatile regions.
According to Jordan News Agency, experts said Bjerde's positive assessment reflects the success of Jordan's monetary and fiscal policies, the stability of the Jordanian dinar, and the growth of foreign currency reserves. They also highlighted the impact of the Kingdom's Economic Modernization Vision and public sector reform efforts aimed at enhancing competitiveness, improving the business environment, and investing in human capital.
The economists stressed, however, that the next phase should focus on accelerating economic growth, creating jobs, and attracting high-quality investments.
During a recent visit to Jordan, Bjerde said that the best way to address current challenges is through investment that strengthens resilience. She noted that Jordan has successfully adopted this approach, emphasizing that economic stability, sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies, and investments in human capital have enhanced the Kingdom's ability to manage the repercussions of ongoing regional crises.
Chairman of the Economic Forum, Khair Abu Saileek, said Bjerde's remarks constitute a significant international recognition of Jordan's capacity to navigate economic crises in a region marked by constant instability.
He attributed this resilience to modernization reforms launched under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II and implemented through the Economic Modernization Vision and the Public Sector Modernization Roadmap. These initiatives, he said, seek to improve government efficiency, strengthen the business climate, and boost the competitiveness of the national economy.
Abu Saileek noted that Jordan has faced a series of challenges over the past decade, including regional conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, and the war in Gaza. Despite these pressures, he said, the Kingdom has maintained steady economic growth, preserved the stability of the dinar, and successfully contained inflation compared with many countries in the region.
He added that Jordan's resilience has been evident in its ability to absorb shocks without experiencing major economic imbalances while maintaining public services and financial stability.
Abu Saileek also emphasized that Bjerde's focus on investments in education, healthcare, and skills development highlights Jordan's key competitive advantage: its qualified human resources.
He described human capital as one of the country's most valuable assets for attracting investment and supporting future growth.
At the same time, he cautioned that significant challenges remain, particularly reducing unemployment, accelerating economic growth, increasing domestic and foreign investment, and expanding labor market participation among women and youth.
Financial and economic expert Mohammad Abdul Qader echoed these views, describing Bjerde's comments as an important international acknowledgment of Jordan's success in managing multiple economic and geopolitical shocks over recent years.
He pointed out that Jordan weathered the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict in Gaza, and broader regional tensions while maintaining a notable degree of economic and financial stability compared with many peer economies.
According to Abdul Qader, one of the main factors behind this resilience has been the Central Bank of Jordan's success in maintaining exchange rate stability and strengthening confidence in the banking sector, thereby limiting the transmission of external shocks to the domestic economy.
He noted that Jordan has retained its sovereign credit ratings at Ba3 from Moody's and BB- from both S and P and Fitch, with all three agencies maintaining a stable outlook despite regional uncertainties.
Abdul Qader also highlighted the continued growth of Jordan's foreign reserves, which rose by approximately $1.7 billion since the end of 2025 to reach $27.2 billion by the end of May 2026.
He said the reserves are sufficient to cover the Kingdom's imports of goods and services for about 9.5 months, exceeding international benchmarks and underscoring the strength of Jordan's external position and its ability to withstand global market fluctuations.
Confidence in the economy, he added, is also reflected in the decline of deposit dollarization, which fell from 18.4 percent at the beginning of 2025 to around 17.7 percent in January 2026, signaling sustained trust in the Jordanian dinar and the country's monetary policies.
Abdul Qader further praised Jordan's investments in human capital and social protection, noting that the country improved its ranking on the Human Development Index from 102nd globally when the Economic Modernization Vision was launched to 99th place.
He said Jordan's long-standing strategy of investing in people before infrastructure has produced a highly skilled workforce capable of competing in regional and international markets.
One direct outcome of this approach, he noted, has been the strong performance of remittances from Jordanians working abroad, which increased by 12.4 percent during the first quarter of 2026 to approximately $1.23 billion.
These remittances, he explained, not only support domestic consumption and foreign reserves but also represent a long-term economic return on investments in education, training, and skills development.
Abdul Qader said that the combination of stable credit ratings, growing reserves, declining dollarization, and rising remittances helps explain the World Bank's positive assessment of Jordan's economic resilience.
He added that Jordan's balanced economic and diplomatic relations with regional and international partners have helped sustain flows of aid, investment, and development support, strengthening the economy's ability to cope with recurring crises.
Looking ahead, Abdul Qader stressed the need to shift from crisis management toward faster economic growth, job creation, and the attraction of high-value investments. He said the World Bank's message underscores the importance of investing in economic resilience, strong institutions, and human capital as strategic priorities for safeguarding Jordan's future prosperity.
Economic analyst Munir Dieh also described the World Bank's praise as further evidence of international confidence in Jordan's economic policies.
He noted that despite ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges, Jordan has maintained stable growth rates ranging between 2.7 and 3 percent, while many countries in the Middle East and North Africa region have experienced slower growth.
Dieh highlighted Jordan's strong foreign reserve levels, record export performance, increased foreign investment inflows, and the launch of major development projects in water, energy, and transportation sectors.
He said reforms implemented under the Economic Modernization Vision, combined with the government's ability to execute projects on schedule and secure financing through partnerships with the private sector, demonstrate strong investor confidence in the Jordanian economy.
According to Dieh, large-scale projects valued at approximately $14 billion including the National Water Carrier Project, the Aqaba Railway Project, the Risha Gas Project, and the Amra City development initiative have strengthened confidence in Jordan's economic outlook and are expected to support higher growth rates in the coming years.
He concluded that Jordan has consistently demonstrated its ability to confront challenges, mitigate the impact of regional and global crises, and pursue greater self-reliance in energy, food, and water security, while advancing sustainable development goals aimed at improving living standards and building a stronger, more resilient economy.