Amman – The economic and development messages contained in the Royal Speech from the Throne raise questions about the requirements for achieving genuine development, the mechanisms for turning plans and programs into tangible results that improve citizens’ lives and living standards, and how to accelerate the implementation of Economic Modernization Vision projects and major national projects in a way that supports growth, expands employment opportunities, and improves the efficiency of the national economy.
اضافة اعلان
Economic experts told Al-Ghad in separate interviews that achieving sustainable development requires moving beyond measuring performance solely through growth indicators and economic figures, toward linking these indicators to higher incomes and improved basic services, expanding productive and investment opportunities, and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all parts of the Kingdom.
They stressed that accelerating major projects, particularly in transportation, water, energy, infrastructure and logistics, would strengthen the competitiveness of the Jordanian economy and make better use of the Kingdom’s strategic location to consolidate its role as a regional hub for trade, transportation and services. This would also open broader prospects for economic integration with countries in the region, enhancing Jordan’s ability to capitalize on regional opportunities and attract investment.
They noted that translating these objectives into reality requires coordinated efforts between the government, legislature and private sector, along with updating legislation, simplifying procedures, strengthening the rule of law and transparency, and providing a stable and attractive investment environment capable of attracting and retaining both domestic and foreign investment.
They emphasized that the success of economic modernization should be measured by its ability to create added value for the national economy, generate jobs, improve citizens’ living standards and strengthen Jordan’s economic standing regionally.
King Abdullah II said Monday, during the Royal Speech from the Throne marking the opening of the third ordinary session of the 20th Parliament: “I have always stressed that the interests of Jordanians must be at the heart of every decision, not at its margins. Genuine development is development whose impact citizens can feel in their livelihoods, opportunities, education, healthcare and the future of their children.”
The King added: “Today, we are moving forward on the path of economic modernization. Work has begun on a number of ambitious major projects aimed at supporting the national economy, strengthening its resilience and building on Jordan’s pivotal role in the region. I call on the government to accelerate their completion.”
Development’s Impact on Citizens’ Lives Is the Measure of Economic Policy
Economics professor Dr. Ghazi Al-Assaf said the Royal Speech carried two complementary messages. The first concerned the philosophy of economic development and redefining its priorities, while the second focused on the need to accelerate the implementation of major projects under the Economic Modernization Vision.
Al-Assaf explained that the first message confirms that Jordanian citizens must be at the center of economic decision-making, and that development should not be measured solely by growth rates and economic indicators, but also by the extent to which it improves living standards, expands opportunities, enhances education and supports the future of coming generations.
He added that the second message concerns accelerating major projects as the practical means of achieving development objectives. The two messages are complementary: the first defines the fundamental purpose of economic policies, while the second identifies the means and priorities required to achieve it.
He said the King highlighted the implementation gap between economic plans and programs on one hand and actual results on the ground on the other, stressing the need for the government to address this gap and accelerate implementation so that strategic plans translate into tangible results that citizens can feel.
Al-Assaf said genuine economic development is linked to human development, improved living standards and inclusive growth that ensures different segments of society benefit from economic growth. He noted that the success of economic policies should be measured through a range of indicators rather than gross domestic product alone.
These indicators, he said, include labor-market performance and unemployment rates, particularly among young people, levels of economic participation, real income and purchasing power, and the quality of education and healthcare services. They also include equal opportunities and their geographical distribution between Amman and the governorates, reflecting the inclusiveness of development and fairness in distributing its benefits.
Al-Assaf said the Royal Speech provided the government with a clear standard for evaluating economic policies and development plans: measuring their direct impact on citizens’ lives. Achieving this requires accelerating project implementation, closing the gap between planning and execution, and linking economic progress to quality of life and the future of Jordanian citizens.
Genuine Development Starts With the Citizen
Economic expert Hossam Ayesh said the Royal Speech, delivered by King Abdullah II, was decisive, clear and focused, carrying highly important messages at a sensitive moment for Jordan, particularly following the criminal incident in Karak. He said the speech represented a turning point in addressing national issues, especially economic and development priorities, and placed the interests of Jordan and its citizens at the heart of policies and decisions.
Ayesh explained that the King’s emphasis on putting Jordan’s interests at the center of every decision, rather than at its margins, represents a fundamental directive that should be reflected in legislation, policies, programs, projects and investments. Their value should be measured by the actual returns they generate for the national economy and their positive impact on citizens’ lives and living standards.
He noted that the speech presented a clear vision of genuine development that goes beyond achieving growth rates and quantitative economic indicators toward qualitative development whose direct impact is felt by citizens across all regions in their livelihoods, employment opportunities, education, healthcare and the future of their children. He said this approach reflects the essence of the Economic Modernization Vision and its objective of improving quality of life and expanding economic opportunities.
Ayesh pointed out that recent years have seen progress in several economic indicators used by governments and international institutions to assess performance. However, a gap has remained between improvements in these indicators and their translation into tangible results felt by citizens in their workplaces, local communities and available opportunities. He said the Royal Speech placed this gap at the center of attention and called for linking the success of economic policies to their impact on people’s lives.
He said economic modernization should be understood comprehensively, combining improved economic performance with better living conditions and greater social participation. It should not be limited to modernizing tools and procedures or introducing digital and smart technologies. The citizen must remain the center and ultimate objective of the economic, development and investment process, with the extent of public benefit serving as the measure of success.
Ayesh stressed that translating the royal directives into practical outcomes requires developing economic performance measurement tools so that they do not focus solely on growth rates and numerical achievements, but also measure the impact of policies and projects on household incomes, employment opportunities, service quality and living standards, while ensuring that the benefits of development reach citizens throughout the Kingdom.
He added that the messages contained in the speech represent a direct call to the government, Parliament, political parties, civil society organizations and other institutions to develop their working methods and move beyond traditional approaches. They should work together to utilize available resources and the country’s untapped potential, strengthening participation in economic, political and social modernization.
He stressed that the success of modernization depends on its ability to involve different segments of society in development and ensure that citizens feel its benefits. This would help strengthen confidence in the future and move people from feelings of marginalization and limited opportunities toward a sense of genuine partnership in building the economy and developing society.
Ayesh concluded that the Royal Speech established a clear standard for measuring the success of modernization and development efforts: placing citizens at the center of the economic process and turning growth, investment and reforms into added value that improves their lives and future. He stressed that the next phase requires translating these messages into policies, decisions and practical results whose impact citizens can feel, while supporting the progress and sustainable growth of the national economy.
Major Projects as a Pillar for Growth and Investment
Economic expert Munir Deyeh said one of the key messages of the Royal Speech was the need for citizens to feel the impact of economic and development projects in their daily lives and livelihoods, with their results directly reflected in the quality of services provided to them, particularly in healthcare, education and public services.
He added that the Royal Speech emphasized the importance of continuing to implement major economic projects and moving forward with the Economic Modernization Vision and its executive programs, contributing to the resilience of the national economy and improving its key performance indicators.
He stressed that serious and sustained implementation of these major projects is essential to strengthening the resilience of the national economy, expanding investment opportunities and improving key economic indicators. This would ensure that the effects of development are reflected in citizens’ living conditions, allowing them to see tangible results in their daily lives and enjoy a dignified standard of living.
Deyeh noted that improving government performance, raising the quality of services provided to citizens and accelerating the completion of their transactions are all essential components of development. He stressed that public employees must assume their responsibilities and duties and that there should be no place for anyone who views public office as a privilege that exempts them from serving citizens.
He said the King’s emphasis on the rule of law and the principle that no one is above the law, with everyone held accountable for negligence or violations regardless of their names, ranks or positions, carries important implications for combating corruption and strengthening integrity and transparency. These factors positively affect the investment environment, help attract and retain investment, and support sustainable economic activity.
He said the Royal Speech also emphasized the importance of water security at a time when geopolitical challenges and their repercussions are affecting global security and the economy. This requires taking the necessary measures to protect the national economy from the consequences of such challenges and limit their impact on citizens’ living conditions and incomes, preserving economic resilience and strengthening the country’s ability to withstand changing circumstances.
Deyeh stressed the importance of coordination between the government and Parliament and the need to adopt legislation, laws and regulations that serve the national economy and keep pace with its growth requirements. Differences in viewpoints, he said, should remain within the framework of responsible debate whose outcomes ultimately serve Jordan and the national economy.
He added that the government and Parliament are required to translate the Royal Speech into practical measures by bringing about genuine change in the way economic legislation is handled, ensuring that it keeps pace with developments in the Jordanian economy and creating a legislative environment capable of serving the higher national interest and meeting growth requirements.
He pointed out that the current parliamentary session includes several important draft laws requiring responsible handling by the government and lawmakers, foremost among them the 2027 General Budget Law, the Social Security Law, legislation concerning companies and the Election Law. He stressed the importance of subjecting these laws to serious national discussions that ensure the public interest and produce positive outcomes for citizens’ lives and living standards.
Major Projects Strengthen Jordan’s Position as a Regional Hub
Dr. Daifallah Abu Aqoula, president of the Jordanian Customs Clearance and Freight Transport Companies Association, stressed the importance of the directives contained in King Abdullah II’s speech regarding accelerating economic modernization and implementing major projects, given their potential impact on growth, investment and job creation.
Abu Aqoula said the King’s emphasis on placing citizens’ interests at the heart of decisions and ensuring that development is reflected in their livelihoods, opportunities and future underscores the need to translate economic plans and programs into results that positively affect citizens and productive sectors.
He added that the major projects currently being implemented represent an important pillar for supporting the national economy. This requires accelerating their completion according to clear timelines and strengthening public-private partnerships, opening new prospects for investment and creating jobs.
Abu Aqoula noted that customs clearance and freight transport are vital sectors linked to trade flows and supply chains. Developing infrastructure, logistics services and customs centers, simplifying procedures and expanding digital transformation would strengthen Jordan’s position as a regional transportation and trade hub, support exports and imports, and improve the business environment.
He stressed that developing the transportation and logistics system and modernizing customs procedures would improve the efficiency of freight movement, reduce time and costs, strengthen Jordanian companies’ access to foreign markets, and increase the Kingdom’s attractiveness to investment related to trade, transportation and services.
Sustainable Development as the Basis for Better Living Standards
Political economy specialist Zayan Zawaneh said the King’s remarks addressed the essence of sustainable development and its requirements for economic growth and advancement. He said the Royal Speech sought to strengthen the position of citizens, improve their living standards and support their ability to enjoy a dignified life in their homeland.
Zawaneh added that genuine development is linked to providing citizens with the foundations of a dignified life, including income, employment opportunities, healthcare and education, while ensuring that they feel secure about their future and that of their children in their country.
He noted that King Abdullah II emphasized during the speech the importance of steps that strengthen sustainable economic development and support Jordan’s ability to continue its process of building and development, benefiting various sectors and fields.
Zawaneh said the King’s emphasis that public office exists to serve citizens highlights the importance of improving the performance of public institutions and the quality of services. This would enable Jordan to strengthen its national capabilities and benefit from the potential of its educated and healthy citizens across various fields.
He stressed that economic and social development are also linked to preserving Jordan’s security and stability amid the challenges and risks facing the region. He underscored the importance of strengthening the state’s ability to protect its national interests and confront the repercussions of regional tensions, thereby preserving Jordan’s stability and that of the wider region.
Source: Al-Ghad
