Jordan will implement structural reforms aligned with the International Monetary Fund's recommendations to improve the country's business environment, but persistent regional instability and anti-Western sentiment will likely deter some foreign investment. On July 1, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) disbursed an additional $130 million of its $1.2 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement with Jordan that it signed in January following a successful initial review. In announcing the disbursement, the IMF stated that Jordan's EFF-supported program was ''off to a strong start, reflecting the authorities' strong ownership'' of the program.'' The fund further noted that Amman had met all the benchmarks and criteria for the first review, including via its efforts to improve the country's macroeconomic stability, business environment, and the financial viability of the electricity sector. But the IMF also noted that Jordan still faces high unemployment rates and significant expenditure to address the more than 600,000 Syrian refugees...
