03-08-2025
Foresight for the Future: Jordan
Prof. Dr. Haytham Eloqayli Jordan is a country that has remained stable despite many storms, and therefore, it is logical to assume that this stability will persist. The leadership is wise, the institutions are solid, and the people consistently show awareness and loyalty whenever the nation is under threat. This compels us to envision the future we aspire to and strive to achieve, taking into consideration that technological advancement is the cornerstone of development and progress. Hence, I will present my vision across various sectors:1. Health:Jordan is in an excellent position, yet there is room for improvement. In my opinion, a public health insurance company should be established to organize the privatization of healthcare management—not hospitals—thus enhancing efficiency. Hospital funding should be linked to service quality and the integration of technology. An example is the Emirati company Daman, which manages healthcare service financing through a fast and effective pre-approval system for medical services and surgeries. This approach ensures effective resource allocation and additional oversight without compromising the quality of care for citizens. Additionally, integrating AI into healthcare administration reduces human error and offers predictive tools for improving services through periodic data reviews.2. Culture:Positive governmental decisions often lose their impact due to the absence of a coherent governmental narrative that communicates them to society. This leaves a void filled by groups aiming to undermine public trust in state institutions, ultimately damaging the public mood due to a lack of effective communication. What's needed is both direct and indirect parallel media to raise public awareness of the state's achievements—not just addressing elites in an elevated tone, but incorporating the social dimensions of each decision to build social support, strengthen internal unity, and allow citizens to feel like partners.3. Youth:Empowering youth is often reduced to placing them in leadership positions, but in reality, we need structured programs to prepare them for emerging markets in the Gulf and Europe. I outlined mechanisms for this in a previous article. Moreover, youth have a critical need that may even surpass unemployment: they need a reliable reference point to resolve their daily challenges, which—though they may seem simple to us—are deeply important to them, and their solutions are often straightforward if given proper attention.4. Social Engagement:I am still convinced of the need for a Ministry of State for Social Communication to serve as a bridge between the government and society, filling the current void that has been overtaken by groups distorting public awareness and the official narrative. This ministry would be tasked with engaging youth through parallel media, receiving their feedback on procedural challenges, and directly communicating with community leaders in the provinces, tribal areas, and refugee camps. The goal is to explain government decisions and the reasoning behind them while gathering grassroots feedback.5. Free Cities:The region now needs advanced medical centers, financial hubs, and resorts to relieve pressure and stress. These must be free from social constraints and operate with lower taxes to attract investment. This cannot be achieved without establishing free cities where the government builds infrastructure and leases or sells plots to domestic and international private investors for the development of resorts, hospitals, universities, schools, and financial centers.
In summary, amid the chaos and conflicts of the Eastern Mediterranean, there are opportunities. We are a stable nation with confidence in our leadership, people, and institutions. While politicians manage current events, our duty as intellectuals, scholars, and thinkers is to chart visions and dreams for the growth and development of Jordan.
