Khaberni - Referring to the General Budget Law for the fiscal year 2026, the total estimated general revenues reached approximately 10 billion and 930 million dinars by the end of 2026, including foreign grants, and the total estimated public expenditures by the end of 2026 reached about 13 billion and 56 million dinars with an estimated financial deficit of about 2 billion and 125 million, approximately 4.6% of the gross domestic product compared to 5.2% last year, showing a noticeable improvement. This budget is expected to increase the economic growth rate from 2.7% to 2.9% due to increased capital expenditure allocations such as the national carrier project, support and development of municipalities, and Reesheh gas. As for the inflation rate, it will remain at 2% with difficulties in prediction due to market instability and regional tensions, and the total capital expenditure reached 1.6 billion dinars, accounting for 12% of total public expenditures, and the ratio of general revenues to current expenditures reached 89% i.e., the total general revenues cover 89% of the total public expenditures, where the estimated public revenues in the general budget for the year 2026 depended on tax revenues which totaled 7 billion and 656 million Jordanian dinars, equivalent to 75% of the total general revenues.
Regarding the public debt service from repaying external and internal loan installments, it roughly amounted to about 2 billion and 260 million, equivalent to 17% of the total public spending, which resulted in a decrease in capital expenditure allocations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a plan to reduce borrowing, which amounted in total internal loans to 5 billion and 543 million Jordanian dinars, reflecting the government's reliance more on borrowing than its capacity to expand the production sphere and self-reliance, and increase the gross domestic product to double the revenues to cover the current expenditures and accumulated debts.
In light of this budget, I expect a slight improvement in the economic situation with modest changes that I consider as timid changes by the government, but different from other budgets, and we hope from the government to double the allocations for capital and investment spending and to stimulate the gross domestic product as a means to increase revenues instead of taxes on income and goods.
