Editing Economy of Jordan (section)

===Remittances to Jordan===
The flows of remittance to Jordan experienced rapid growth, particularly in the late 1970s and 1980s, when Jordan started exporting high skilled labour to the [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf States]]. The money that migrants send home, remittances, is an important source of external funding for many developing countries, including Jordan.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Al-Assaf |first1=Ghazi |title=Workers' Remittances in Jordan Their Macroeconomic Determinants and Impact on Financial Development |date=2012 |location=Saarbrücken |isbn=978-3659258398 |edition=1. Aufl}}</ref> With about US$3000 million in remittances in 2010, Jordan was in 10th place among developing countries according to World Bank data. Jordan has ranked constantly among the top 20 remittances-recipient countries over the last decade. In addition, the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) statistics in 2010 indicate that Jordan was the third biggest recipient of remittances among Arab countries after Egypt and Lebanon. The host countries that have absorbed most of the Jordanian expatriates are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab of Emirates (UAE), where the available recorded number of the Jordanian expatriates, working abroad, indicates that about 90% of these migrants are working in Persian Gulf countries.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
The proportion of skilled workers in Jordan is among the highest in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jobs.timesonline.co.uk/document/5c1b56fe-503a-40ff-ab4e-28aaf71ec6c6.pdf|work=The Times|location=London |title=TheTimes }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Many of the world's major software and hardware IT companies are present in Jordan. The presence of such firms underlines Jordan's attractiveness as a stable base with high-calibre human resources from which to serve the wider region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/central-server-country-becoming-base-regional-operations-0 |title=A central server: The country is becoming a base for regional operations &#124; ICT &#124; Jordan |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506133403/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/central-server-country-becoming-base-regional-operations-0 |archive-date=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to a report published in January 2012 by the founder of venture capital firm Finaventures, Rachid Sefraoui, Amman is one of the top 10 best cities in the world to launch a tech start-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/programing-potential-rising-penetration-levels-spur-new-focus-sector-0 |title=Programing potential: Rising penetration levels spur new focus on the sector &#124; ICT &#124; Jordan |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506115311/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/programing-potential-rising-penetration-levels-spur-new-focus-sector-0 |archive-date=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

An estimated 13.3% of citizens live under the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |author=Suha Philip Ma'ayeh |url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/thousands-protest-in-jordan-for-third-week |title=Thousands protest in Jordan for third week – The National |publisher=Thenational.ae |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221215705/http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/thousands-protest-in-jordan-for-third-week |archive-date=21 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since the mid-1970s, migrants' remittances are Jordan's most important source of foreign exchange, and a decisive factor in the country's economic development and the rising [[standard of living]] of the population.<ref name="N. Zaqqa 2006, p. 11">N. Zaqqa; Economic Development and Export of Human Capital. A Contradiction? The impact of human capital migration on the economy of sending countries. A case study of Jordan; PhD thesis 2006, p. 11</ref>

[[Agriculture in Jordan]] constituted almost 40% of GNP in the early 1950s; on the eve of the June 1967 War, it was 17%.<ref name="LOC">{{cite web|editor=Chapin Metz, Helen | editor-link=Helen Chapin Metz |url=http://countrystudies.us/jordan/51.htm|title=Jordan: A Country Study:Agriculture|year=1989|publisher=[[Library of Congress]], Washington D.C.|access-date=4 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121151731/http://countrystudies.us/jordan/51.htm|archive-date=21 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> By the mid-1980s, agriculture's share of [[GNP]] in Jordan was only about 6%.<ref name="LOC"/>

Jordan hosts [[Special Operations Forces Exhibition|SOFEX]], the world's fastest growing and region's only special operations and homeland security exhibition and conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sofexjordan.com |title=SOFEX Jordan |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729091605/http://sofexjordan.com/ |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jordan is a regional and international provider of advanced military goods and services.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaddb-ipark.com/Public/English.aspx?Site_ID=1&Page_ID=843 |title=KADDB Industrial Park |publisher=Kaddb-ipark.com |date=9 October 2009 |access-date=22 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428190442/http://www.kaddb-ipark.com/Public/English.aspx?Site_ID=1&Page_ID=843 |archive-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The KADDB Industrial Park, specialized in defense manufacturing, was opened in September 2009 in Mafraq. By 2015, the park is expected to provide around 15,000 job opportunities whereas the investment volume is expected to reach JD500 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaddb-ipark.com/ |title=:: KADDB Industrial Park |publisher=Kaddb-ipark.com |access-date=22 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207173422/http://kaddb-ipark.com/ |archive-date=7 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A report by [[Strategic Foresight Group]] has calculated the opportunity [[cost of conflict]] for the Middle East from 1991 to 2010 at $12 trillion. Jordan's share in this is almost $84 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.strategicforesight.com/Cost%20of%20Conflict%20-%206%20pager.pdf |title=Cost of conflict in the Middle East |access-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519032453/http://www.strategicforesight.com/Cost%20of%20Conflict%20-%206%20pager.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Jordan has a 138% mobile phone penetration rate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/economic_updates/jordan-fourth-telecoms-provider|title=Jordan: Fourth telecoms provider?|work=Oxford Business Group|access-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803194501/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/economic_updates/jordan-fourth-telecoms-provider|archive-date=3 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a 63% internet penetration rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jordantimes.com/ministry-preparing-to-develop-new-ict-strategy |title=Ministry preparing to develop new ICT strategy |work=The Jordan Times|access-date=26 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727111514/http://jordantimes.com/ministry-preparing-to-develop-new-ict-strategy |archive-date=27 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/jordan-seeks-new-operators-in-spectrum-tender--912539 |title=Jordan seeks new operators in spectrum tender |publisher=Telecompaper |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=31 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125415/http://www.telecompaper.com/news/jordan-seeks-new-operators-in-spectrum-tender--912539 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> 41.6% of all mobile phones in Jordan are smartphones, compared with 40% in the United States and 26% in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/40-percent-of-u-s-mobile-users-own-smartphones-40-percent-are-android/ |title=40 Percent of U.S. Mobile Users Own Smartphones; 40 Percent are Android &#124; Nielsen Wire |publisher=Blog.nielsen.com |date=1 September 2011 |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005040926/http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/40-percent-of-u-s-mobile-users-own-smartphones-40-percent-are-android/ |archive-date=5 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303302504577323440878296190 | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Ben | last=Rooney | title=Internet in Middle East Still Short of Its Potential | access-date=3 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207055603/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303302504577323440878296190 | archive-date=7 December 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093491626/Jordan-Local-firm-to-develop-games-for-BlackBerry-smartphone-PlayBook-users |title=Jordan- Local firm to develop games for BlackBerry smartphone, PlayBook users – middle east north africa financial network |publisher=MENAFN |date=30 June 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515163257/http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093491626/Jordan-Local-firm-to-develop-games-for-BlackBerry-smartphone-PlayBook-users |archive-date=15 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 97% of Jordanian households own at least one television set while 90% have satellite reception.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/world/middleeast/jordanians-debate-role-of-press.html?pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | first=Rana F. | last=Sweis | title=Jordanians Debate Role of Press | date=14 September 2011 | access-date=26 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723023142/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/world/middleeast/jordanians-debate-role-of-press.html?pagewanted=all | archive-date=23 July 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.business.jo/mobile-phone-penetration-reaches-120-per-cent/ |title=Mobile phone penetration reaches 120 per cent &#124; Jordan Business News &#124; Amman Social Business Events &#124; Press Release & opinions |publisher=English.business.jo |access-date=26 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509021328/http://english.business.jo/mobile-phone-penetration-reaches-120-per-cent/ |archive-date=9 May 2012 }}</ref> Furthermore, 61% of Jordanian households own at least one personal computer or laptop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ameinfo.com/study-61-jordanian-households-computers-305639 |title=Study says 61% of Jordanian households have computers &#124; Technology |publisher=AMEinfo.com |date=20 June 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710070307/http://www.ameinfo.com/study-61-jordanian-households-computers-305639 |archive-date=10 July 2012 }}</ref><ref name="jordantimes.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=27413 |title=Domestic Internet penetration increases in 2010 |author=Hani Hazaimeh |newspaper=[[The Jordan Times]] |date=13 June 2010 |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220083607/http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=27413 |archive-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to an investment survey, Jordan ranked as the 9th best outsourcing destination worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093280320 |title=Survey: Global Investment House after last year's drop |publisher=Menafn.com |date=21 March 2010 |access-date=15 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501163906/http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093280320 |archive-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Amman is one of the top 10 cities in the world to launch a tech start-up in 2012 and is becoming referred to as the "Silicon Valley of the Middle East".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/cohan-jordan-vc-firms-forging-mideast-silicon-valley.html | work=Bloomberg | first=William D. | last=Cohan | title=Jordan VC Firms Forging Mideast Silicon Valley: William D. Cohan | date=5 February 2012 | access-date=6 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129082511/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/cohan-jordan-vc-firms-forging-mideast-silicon-valley.html | archive-date=29 November 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Jordan has hosted the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa six times and plans to hold it again at the Dead Sea for the seventh time in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/jordan-to-host-world-economic-forum-in-2013 |title=Jordan to host World Economic Forum in 2013 |work=The Jordan Times|access-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428112001/http://jordantimes.com/jordan-to-host-world-economic-forum-in-2013 |archive-date=28 April 2015 }}</ref> Amman also hosts the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week semiannually and is the only city in the region to hold such a prestigious event that is usually held by the likes of [[New York City|New York]], [[Paris]], and [[Milan]].<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--[if IE 6]> <![endif]--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/09/248539.html |title=Fashion week kicks off in Amman |publisher=English.alarabiya.net |date=9 November 2012 |access-date=31 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218105022/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/09/248539.html |archive-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>