one: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the
Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and
green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle
on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and
bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven
verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven
points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national
spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is
based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Economy
Jordan

Economy - overview:

Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of water,
oil, and other natural resources. Poverty, unemployment, and
inflation are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH II, since
assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic
reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Since
Jordan's graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman
has continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary
policy, making substantial headway with privatization, and opening
the trade regime. Jordan's exports have significantly increased
under the free trade accord with the US and Jordanian Qualifying
Industrial Zones (QIZ), which allow Jordan to export goods duty free
to the US. In 2006, Jordan reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio
significantly. These measures have helped improve productivity and
have made Jordan more attractive for foreign investment. Before the
US-led war in Iraq, Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq. Since
2003, however, Jordan has been more dependent on oil from other Gulf
nations. The government ended subsidies for petroleum and other
consumer goods in 2008 in an effort to control the budget. The main
challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants,
reducing the budget deficit, attracting investments, and creating
jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$28.45 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 10.3%
services: 86.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

1.563 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 12.5