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Jordan is a patriarchal society in which cultural traditions and societal norms continue to encourage discrimination against women. In recent years, the status of Jordanian women in society has improved somewha
In 1980 an airborne spectrometric survey covering the entire country was completed. By 1988 ground based radiometric surveys of anomalies identified in the airborne survey were completed. During the 1988-1990 period, the Precambrian basement and Ordovician sandstone target areas were evaluated using geological, geochemical and radiometric mapping and/or surveys.
The education system in Jordan faces considerable demographic pressures. Almost 6 in 10 persons are 5 to 29-year-olds, the second-highest share in WEI countries. Over the next decade, the 5 to 19-yearold age group is projected to grow faster than any other WEI country, creating additional demand for education providers.
Policies for promoting responsible business conduct (RBC) in Jordan are still scarce. The concept is relatively new, the level of awareness is low and there is no comprehensive national policy. The government, enterprises and NGOs are, however, progressively taking initiatives to incorporate RBC into their practices. The authorities developed a Corporate Governance Code based on the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. They ratified human rights conventions, but further steps are needed to guarantee respect for human rights by enterprises. The legal and institutional framework for employment and labour relations has been reinforced, but challenges remain in relation to freedom of association and social dialogue. Environmental impact assessments are conducted, though awareness on green business conduct is limited.With a view to promoting the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and their observance by companies, Jordan will establish its National Contact Point within the Jordan Investment Board.
Trans-sectoral: For registration purposes, non-Jordanian investments must have at least JD 50 000 of capital, except when participating in public shareholding companies.
Jordan is facing environmental challenges. It is one of the world’s most water-poor countries and the energy mix is heavily focusing on oil. There are significant opportunities in terms of mobilising private investment, including foreign, in support of green growth. The National Energy Strategy plans to increase by 2020 the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix to 10% and to reduce the energy consumption by 20% through energy efficiency measures. A Law on Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency was adopted in 2010 and incentives are provided. Despite promising initiatives, gaps remain to increase investment in green sectors. The phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies and a feed-in tariff could help stimulate investment in renewable energy. A closer monitoring of government programmes could also ensure better results.
Jordan’s legal investment regime is governed by a series of laws and regulations, not all easily accessible, some being temporary and overlapping. It suffers from deficiencies in terms of legal coherence, transparency and predictability for investors. The authorities are aware that it needs to be clarified, unified and improved, and have announced the revision of the investment law and the restructuration of the investment institutional framework.Jordan applies restrictions on foreign investment under the OECD National Treatment instrument. Limitations on foreign ownership concern sectors such as telecommunications and transport, but also wholesale trade and retail, and construction, which are more unusual among OECD countries and adherents to the OECD Declaration on International Investment. In addition, some measures having a bearing on FDI are notified for purposes of transparency. Jordan’s overall scoring under the OECD’s FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index is high and significantly above the average for adhering countries.
In addition to legal provisions, a number of policy areas have an important impact on the investment climate, such as investment policy, promotion and facilitation, trade policy, anti-corruption, competition policy, infrastructure and financial sector development.Jordan conducted structural reforms aimed at liberalising its trade and investment regime and fostering private-sector led growth. It joined the WTO in 2000, signed 53 bilateral investment treaties, ratified the UN Convention against Corruption, adopted national legislation on intellectual property rights and competition, and has relatively well-developed infrastructures and financial sector compared to its regional peers. However, significant challenges remain. The policy framework for investment continues suffering from administrative and regulatory obstacles and lack of policy implementation and legal enforcement.
This chapter addresses to what extent key legal frameworks are responsive to young people’s needs and provide opportunities for them to participate in public and political life. It analyses minimum age criteria set up to vote and run in elections and those that determine access to employment, education, health, justice and other services that are critical for the transition of youth to an autonomous life. The chapter will benchmark the current criteria in place against the thresholds set across MENA and OECD countries in a constant effort of balancing concerns about protecting and empowering young men and women.
This chapter seeks to assess Jordan’s media and information enabling environment in order to determine how it can be best leveraged in support of its ongoing public communication and media engagement efforts. With a focus to improving media and information ecosystems, the analysis seeks to evaluate a number of political economy issues from structural, institutional, and stakeholder perspectives, including critical gaps and challenges that exist. Accordingly, this chapter will provide targeted recommendations to address the challenges identified and help the government of Jordan to best utilise the media to communicate its public policy priorities.
Middle East and North Africa Investment Policy Perspectives highlights the considerable progress in investment policies made by the region’s governments over the past decade. Yet, the reform momentum needs to be sustained and deepened for the benefits of investment to be shared with society at large and for growth to be sustainable, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting global economic upheaval. The publication takes stock of investment policy trends and reforms in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Tunisia, and draws out common challenges, offering suggestions of reform priorities. It considers several dimensions of the policy framework that affect the investment climate and places strong emphasis on how foreign investment can help economies of the region improve their citizens’ lives. The publication serves as reference point, informing policymakers on specific areas as they continue work on leveraging investment to advance inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Jordan Clean Energy Investment Policy Review is a country-specific application of the OECD Policy Guidance for Investment in Clean Energy Infrastructure. It aims to help Jordanian policy makers strengthen the enabling conditions for investment in renewable electricity generation in Jordan. The Policy Guidance is a non-prescriptive tool to help governments identify ways to mobilise private sector investment in clean energy infrastructure, especially in renewable electricity generation. The Policy Guidance was jointly developed by the OECD Working Party on Climate, Investment and Development (WPCID) of the Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) and the OECD Investment Committee, jointly with the Global Relations Secretariat (GRS). It benefited from significant inputs of the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Policy Guidance was annexed to the Communiqué of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at their meeting on 10-11 October 2013.
This report presents the results of OECD's comprehensive review of Jordan's investment policy. It examines the role of investment in Jordan's economy, Jordan's investment regime and the national treatment instrument, Jordan's policy framework for investment, Jordan's adherence to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterpriese, and its investment framework in support of green growth.
The first section of this chapter assesses sustainable investment in Jordan and derives overarching policy considerations. An analysis by areas of sustainable development (productivity and innovation, job quality and skills development, gender equality, and low-carbon transition) is provided in the second section.