Jordan Competitive Advantage & Overall Performance

Jordan Competitive key strength attributes to the fact that :

• King Abdullah II : strong new generation of leaders, 
• Taken the initiative to make free markets
• High quality , competitiveness labor
• Political stability, and regional cooperation, and
• The late King Hussein legacy, that of the respect of the international community for the contribution of Jordan to world peace

Jordanian economy achieved a growth rate of 4.9 percent in 2002. This growth rate together with growth rate of 4.2 percent realized in the previous years 2000 and 2001 is viewed as a beginning of relatively high rates of economic growth compared with the low growth rates in 1996 – 99 which were around 3 percent per year.

Although Regression in economy growth during the penal 1996 – 1999 was inclusive of several economic sectors, but the growth in the last following years of 2000 – 2002 was inclusive of all these economic sectors.

Growth in mining industries was fluctuating as it recorded a negative growth of 5.2 percent in 2000 and a moderate growth of 4 percent in 2001 as well as higher growth of 9.8 percent in 2002. Contribution of this growth to the GDP remained moderate, within the rate of 3 percent.  

Manufacturing Sector recorded a moderate growth of 5.8 percent in 2001 and a high rate in 2002 reached to 10.6 percent. Exports of this sector recorded a high rate of 36 percent in 2001 and 13 percent in 2002, and this comprises 90 percent of the Domestic exports. 

Construction sector experienced an insignificant growth of 1.1 percent in 2000 after 4 years of a negative growth during the period 1995 – 1998.      A significant improve took place in 2001 where growth rate was 11 percent, while it reached 6.8 percent in 2002.

Trade, Restaurants and Hotels Sector recorded an modest growth of 3.7 percent in 2001 and a good one in 2000 at the rate of 9.2 percent. But this growth witnessed a regression in 2002 to reach 1.7 percent due to the circumstances involving Jordan and deterioration of tourism. Transport and Communications Sector recorded a significant growth of 5.9 percent in 2001 and 5.7 percent in 2002.