Khaberni - Referring to the general budget law for the fiscal year 2026, where the total estimated public revenues until the end of 2026 reached approximately 10 billion and 930 million dinars, including external grants, and the total estimated public expenditures until the end of 2026 reached approximately 13 billion and 56 million dinars, with an estimated financial deficit of about 2 billion and 125 million, which is about 4.6% of the gross domestic product compared to 5.2% last year with a noticeable improvement, It is expected from this budget to increase the economic growth rate from 2.7% to 2.9% due to an increase in allocations for capital spending such as the national carrier project and the support and development of municipalities and Risheh gas, and as for the inflation rate, it will remain steady at 2% with difficulty predicting it due to market instability and regional tensions. The total capital expenditure reached 1.6 billion dinars, which is 12% of the total public expenditure, and the ratio of public revenues to current expenditures reached 89%, meaning that total public revenues cover 89% of total public expenditures. The estimated public revenues in the general budget for the year 2026 relied on tax revenues which totaled 7 billion and 656 billion Jordanian dinars, equivalent to 75% of total public revenues.
As for the public debt service from repayment of foreign and domestic loan installments, its value was approximately 2 billion and 260 million, equivalent to 17% of total public spending, which caused a decrease in allocations for capital expenditures, so it is necessary to devise a plan to reduce borrowing, which the total internal loans reached 5 billion and 543 million Jordanian dinars, reflecting the government's reliance on borrowing more than its ability to expand the production circle and self-reliance, and increasing the gross domestic product to double the revenues to cover current expenditures and accumulated debts.
In light of this budget, I expect a slight improvement in the economic situation with minor changes which I consider as modest changes by the government but different from other budgets, and we hope that the government will double the allocations for capital and investment spending and stimulate the gross domestic product as a means to increase revenues instead of taxes on income and goods.
