03/03/2024

Jordan has been selected as one of the 120 countries participating in the second round of the World Bank's Business Ready Report (B-Ready). The Reform Secretariat at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation has been designated as the government focal point for the B-Ready. This report assesses the regulatory framework, public services, and efficiency for firms and markets. It also incorporates considerations for the modern economy, including digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender participation.

To streamline efforts, the Ministerial Economic Development Committee has approved the establishment of 10 governmental working groups to develop and implement a national action plan containing a set of actions and reforms aimed at improving Jordan's ranking in the report, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the various areas of the report; which are: Business Entry, Business Location, Utility Services, Labor, Financial Services, International Trade, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Market Competition, and Business Insolvency.

During the first week of March, the Reform Secretariat in collaboration with the World Bank conducted a series of workshops attended by 150 participants representing 43 entities from the 10 governmental working groups. The primary aim of these workshops is twofold: firstly, to provide best practices and explain the methodology pertaining to each topic covered in the B-ready report, and secondly, to assess the progress of Jordan's reform agenda against the outlined methodology. The ultimate goal of the workshop is to craft a comprehensive reform action plan by mid- 2024 that will serve as a roadmap for enhancing the business environment in Jordan.

As Jordan embarks on this journey, we eagerly anticipate leveraging B-Ready insights to drive policy improvements and cultivate a vibrant business ecosystem.