Amman, April 20 (Petra) -- The International Monetary Fund said Jordan has taken a set of policy measures to strengthen its capacity to respond to economic challenges, as the country navigates rising price pressures linked to regional tensions.

Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the Fund, said a staff-level agreement on the fifth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) reflects confidence in Jordan’s economic management.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Azour said the measures include boosting shipping and logistics activity through Aqaba Port, strengthening energy security, maintaining supply chain continuity, and ensuring liquidity in financial markets.

He added that the government has also provided targeted support to the most affected groups to mitigate the impact of economic pressures.

The IMF said Jordan entered the current period of regional conflict with solid economic momentum and continues to show resilience, despite short-term pressures affecting energy markets and the tourism sector, with growth expected to slow in 2026.

The Fund projects Jordan’s economy will grow by 2.7% this year, rising to 3.1% next year, while lowering its forecast for the broader Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region to 1.4% growth for the current year.

//Petra// RZ