House to begin budget discussions Wednesday

AMMAN — The Lower House, in its Wednesday session, is scheduled to listen to its Finance Committee’s report on the draft laws for the state budget and the budgets of independent government units.

The House’s finance panel in the past month held 67 meetings to discuss the bills, which include the budgets of 55 ministries and departments, as well as budgets of 58 independent public units, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday.

After hearing its committee’s report and recommendations, the House is expected to begin intensive discussions of the two bills before endorsing them.

In November last year, the Lower House listened to the state budget draft law speech delivered by Finance Minister Omar Malhas, who outlined the government’s plan to salvage the economy, staggering amidst regional turbulence and a huge refugee crisis.

Highlighting the main features of the budget, Malhas said public spending, capital and current, is estimated at JD8.946 billion, while revenues — domestic plus foreign aid — are forecast at JD8.119 billion. 

Both drafts include proposed projects and activities the government intends to implement according to priorities compatible with the Jordan Vision 2025 and the governorate development programme, the minister said. 

He added that they were prepared in coordination with local communities to identify their needs and priorities.

The 2017 state budget draft law also entails several measures, including commitment to implementing the provisions of the 2017-2019 financial and structural reform programme, agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund, and focusing on studying the economic impact of capital projects.