Khaberni - The 2025 annual report of the Middle East Technical Assistance Center (METAC) confirmed that Jordan, alongside Egypt, is among the countries that have made progress in developing the local bond market, at a time when these markets are still lagging in most countries of the region.
The Center, affiliated with the International Monetary Fund, stated in its report, which was translated by "Al-Mamlaka", that this progress "reflects the efforts of the Jordanian authorities in enhancing local financing tools and reducing the reliance on external debt with associated currency risks."
The report defines "developing the local bond market" as establishing and enhancing mechanisms for issuing and trading government debt instruments in local currency, to achieve sustainable financing for the government, reduce risks associated with external debt, and expand the base of local investors.
The report mentioned that METAC will support Jordan during the fiscal year 2026 in several vital areas; most notably, developing local public debt markets to enhance the sustainability of public finance and expand financing options for the government, within the framework of the center's work to assist member countries in formulating and implementing medium-term debt management strategies and improving transparency and building effective local bond markets.
Additionally, the center plans to support Jordan in public financial management by assisting in the assessment and management of financial risks associated with state-owned enterprises and public-private partnerships, and building the capacities of macro-financial units to develop medium-term financial frameworks, aiming to enhance Jordan's ability for medium-term financial planning and mitigate financial risks that public finance may face.
In the area of banking supervision, METAC continues its support for Jordan through projects aimed at developing the Central Bank's capabilities in managing interest rate risks in bank ledgers and enhancing liquidity supervision. The support also includes developing methodologies for the supervisory review process, which are pillars of modern banking supervision, ensuring the robustness of the financial sector and keeping it in line with international standards.
The report also highlighted the leadership role of the Jordanian Central Bank in the region, as it organized a regional workshop on Forecasting and Policy Analysis Systems (FPAS) under the bank's sponsorship, attended by experts from several countries including Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco, along with observers from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The workshop, inaugurated by the Governor of the Jordanian Central Bank, Adli Al-Qirks, served as a platform for exchanging expertise and building a regional community for economic forecasting and analysis practices.
In the context of institutional capacity building, Jordan also participated in activities related to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, where Amman hosted a regional training in cooperation with the United Nations to develop strategic analysis tools using real data from countries in the region, as the report asserts that these diverse activities reflect Jordan's growing role in the journey of economic and financial reform at the regional level, as well as its commitment to developing its financial tools, enhancing transparency, and building local debt markets capable of serving the requirements of growth and economic stability in the coming stage.
The Middle East Technical Assistance Center (METAC) is one of the regional centers affiliated with the International Monetary Fund and operates under the supervision of the Fund's Capacity Development Institute. It aims to provide technical support and build capacities in public finance, monetary policies, banking supervision, debt management, combating money laundering, in addition to developing economic statistics. Since its establishment, the center has served as a platform for cooperation between the International Monetary Fund, member countries, and development partners to support reforms and enhance transparency and governance in the region.
