The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a serious challenge to lower-middle income countries such as Jordan. The country has a large informal economy and an important tourism sector, and the sustained global economic downturn hurt many low-income Jordanians and strained government finances. Jordan also continues to host a large number of Syrian refugees, and few are ready to return home.
In June 2020, Dr. Jon Alterman spoke with Jordanian finance minister Dr. Mohamad al-Ississ on the Babel podcast to address the impacts of Covid-19 on the Jordanian economy as well as the country's nascent recovery plan.
Please join the Middle East Program at CSIS as Minister al-Ississ returns to discuss the status of economic security and development in Jordan as the world begins to recover from the pandemic. While this conversation will be live and in person, because of Covid-19 protocols there will be no audience in the room.
His Excellency Dr. Mohamad al-Ississ currently serves as the Kingdom of Jordan’s finance minister. Previously, he was the minister of planning and international cooperation and an economic advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II. Dr. al-Ississ holds four degrees from Harvard University: a Ph.D in public policy–economic development, an M.A in public administration and economic development, an M.A in Middle Eastern Studies, and a B.A with honors in economics.
This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.