jordan pulse -

Amman – MP Tamara Nassereddin called during the debate on the draft general budget law for urgent support for foreign diplomacy and higher education. She said the current allocations do not reflect the scale of burdens and responsibilities on both ministries during a sensitive regional phase that requires Jordan to strengthen its political and economic tools.

Nassereddin said Jordan stands at the centre of a turbulent region surrounded by crises and wars. This, she added, requires developing the methodology of budget preparation so it can better protect state interests and safeguard achievements. She praised the leadership of King Abdullah II and his role in shielding Jordan from major threats in recent years.

She urged a shift from cost-cutting to boosting non-tax revenues by regulating grey economic activity and updating the management of state assets. She noted that the budget’s reliance on taxes and fees paid by citizens requires a review of spending priorities.

On foreign affairs, she said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ current budget “does not match the size of its diplomatic, investment and expatriate-service responsibilities”. She described Jordanian diplomacy as a political and economic lever that needs stronger financial support.

On education, she said transforming Jordanian universities into an investment-driven sector capable of attracting Arab and foreign students requires an updated legislative and service environment that protects Jordan’s academic reputation.

Nassereddin also raised the issue of women’s empowerment. She said Jordanian women are “a productive force that cannot be viewed as supplementary”, and that investment in women is a national development driver.

She presented several proposals to improve the budget, including:
• adopting programme- and performance-based budgeting
• restructuring unproductive current expenditure
• increasing non-tax revenues
• establishing a national unit for assessing financial and political risks
• strengthening development equity across governorates

She concluded that trust between citizens and the state is built through transparency and efficient public-money management, and reaffirmed Jordan’s consistent position on the Palestinian cause.