Jordanian Trade Deficit Drops by 10% in 2023

The Jordanian Prime Minister speaks during his opening speech at the meeting on the executive program for the economic modernization vision. (Prime Minister’s account on X)
The Jordanian Prime Minister speaks during his opening speech at the meeting on the executive program for the economic modernization vision. (Prime Minister’s account on X)
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Jordanian Trade Deficit Drops by 10% in 2023

The Jordanian Prime Minister speaks during his opening speech at the meeting on the executive program for the economic modernization vision. (Prime Minister’s account on X)
The Jordanian Prime Minister speaks during his opening speech at the meeting on the executive program for the economic modernization vision. (Prime Minister’s account on X)

The Jordanian trade balance deficit witnessed a 10% drop in 2023, reaching JD 9.3 billion ($13.12 billion), from 10.4 billion dinars ($14.6 billion) in 2022.

Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the primary deficit as a proportion of GDP experienced a decrease, falling to 2.6 percent of GDP in 2023, down from approximately 2.7 percent in 2022.

He noted that the kingdom attracted foreign direct investments worth JD 673 million ($948.9 million) by September 2023.

Tourism income surged by 27% in 2023, reaching JD 5.2 billion ($7.33 billion), said the PM at a meeting on the executive program for the economic modernization vision

Total exports reached JD 8.9 billion ($12.5 billion) in 2023, a slight 1.5% decrease from 2022, due to lower prices in global markets, he continued.

Inflationary pressures were contained at 2.1% in 2023, below the targeted 3.8% and lower than 4.2% in 2022.

Khasawneh highlighted Jordan's robust foreign currency reserves, surpassing $18 billion last year, covering imports for over eight months.



E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
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E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters

China's State Administration of Market Regulation issued a statement on Friday saying Alibaba Group had completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior.
In 2021, the regulator slapped a record $2.75 billion fine on the e-commerce giant for abusing its market position by forcing merchants on its platforms not to work with rival platforms.
The regulator's statement said Alibaba's rectification work had achieved "good results" and that it would continue to "guide" Alibaba to continue to "regulate its operations and improve its compliance and quality."
The fine levied on Alibaba in 2021 came during a period of intense scrutiny for the business empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma, Reuters reported. A $37 billion IPO by the finance arm he founded, Ant Group, was also scuttled following Ma's public critique of the country's regulatory system in late 2020.
Alibaba, in its own statement, described the regulator's announcement on Friday as a "new starting point for development" and said it would continue to "promote the healthy development of the platform economy and create more value for society."