IMF: Jordan needs prudent tax management

 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission to Jordan discussed with the financial and economic committees of the Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, Jordan’s current economic situation and the economic burden it is shouldering as a result of hosting Syrian refugees.Head of the mission Christina Kostyal said Jordan’s debts and deficit over the past two years have become huge due to the Syrian crisis and the disruption of Egyptian gas supplies to the Kingdom.She said that the Fund had asked various countries to support Jordan through grants and aid and not through loans, adding that the Fund seeks to support Jordan as it is not capable of solving its financial crisis without support.Kostyal called for introducing a just and strong tax system that ensures commitment by the rich to pay taxes.The government, she added, spends more than its revenues due to the difficult economic situation resulting from the Syrian crisis.“Jordan needs real growth of no less than seven percent to fight poverty and unemployment through improving business structures and to achieve reforms,” she said.