In December 1999, His Majesty King Abdullah II established the Economic Consultative Council (ECC) in order to monitor the implementation of the Dead Sea recommendations. The Council is made up of 20 members, 16 of whom are private sector representatives from various sectors of the economy. Task forces and committees of the First Economic Council

The objectives the Public Reform Task Force are:

  Improving the efficiency and quality of public services.

  Developing financial management in the public sector.

  Developing Human Resources in the public sector.

  Enhancing transparency and accountability.

  Developing information technology in the public sector. 

2) The Water Committee 

The Water Committee is to evaluate the projects presented by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and set up a national strategy in order to meet current challenges.

3) The Banking Committee 

  The Banking Committee is to:

  Evaluate and update the economic legislation environment pertaining to the banking system.

  Activate the role of private banks in economic development.

  Develop the National Payment System.

  Introduce new financial packages and instruments.

  Develop human resources in the banking sector

4) The IT Committee 

The IT Committee aims at developing a vibrant, export-oriented information technology services sector in Jordan.  The committee would also explore means necessary to transform Jordan into a regional IT hub. 

5) The Tourism Committee 

The Tourism Committee is to develop Jordan as a tourist destination.

6) The Development of Aqaba Task Force 

This Aqaba Development Task Force is to lay down the legislative, executive, and legal framework in order to turn Aqaba into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by January 1, 2001.The Zone was launched on February 15, 2001

7) The Specialized Medical Services Committee 

This Specialized Medical Services Committee is to set up a national strategy for the health sector taking into consideration the following issues:

  Enhance partnership between the private and public sectors.

  Restructure the internal system of the medical services sector.

  Promote and market medical services abroad.

  Revise and up date regulations and laws.

  Support the independence of the judicial system.

  Develop the judicial system to meet changes in the global economy

  Ensure a fair and just system for economic activities

  Reduce the length and cost of litigation. 

The main purpose of this Committee is to set up a strategy to optimize the efficiency of water use in agriculture and maximize the return of crops per cubic meter of water.

10) The Vocational Training Task Force 

The Vocational Training Task Force is to set up a national strategy for vocational training taking into consideration the following issues:

  Activate the role of the private sector.

  Revise the current curricula and programs.

  Develop and modernize related legislation.

  Finance vocational training.

11) The Privatization Information Policy Committee 

The main objectives of the Privatization Information Policy Committee are to:

  Set up a national awareness campaign.

  Promote national institutions abroad.

12) The E-government & E-commerce Committee

13) The Capital Market Committee 

The main objectives of this Committee are to:

  Deepen the Jordanian Capital Market

  Develop the Capital Market

  Introduce new financial packages and instruments. 

15) Financing Jordanian Universities Committee.

16) Task Forces to evaluate economic laws and regulations.

Since December 1999, the various Ministries and Departments presented the ECC with reports on how to implement the different recommendations of the Dead Sea Meeting, and how to identify and promote new leading sectors of the economy, such as tourism, IT, and services. The ECC subsequently formed a specialized task force, headed by a member of the Council for each and every subject. The Task Force would include in its membership various representatives from the private sector and experts and professionals in the relevant fields, in order to widen the scope of participation of the different segments of civil society in the economic and social decision-making process. The Task Forces also have the right to request that the Economic Department appoints a specialized Consultancy Firm to undertake studies and prepare roadmaps for specific subjects. Using this method, the ECC formed Task Forces for Educational Reform, Civil Service and Administrative Reform, Banking, E – Government, Establishing a Special Economic Zone in Aqaba, Vocational Training, Privatization, Tourism, REACH (IT) initiative, Fiscal Reform, Deepening of the Financial Market among others. Most of these task forces have completed their work and submitted their findings to the ECC, which discussed and approved them prior to sending them to the Government for implementation.

Jordan First  II  Political & Socio-Economic  Development  II  
  Competitiveness of Jordan  II  Engines of Growth  II  Privatization  II  
Main Economic Indicators  II  Enhance Productivity Program (EPP)  II
Economic Consultative Council (ECC)