Jordan’s textile and clothing sector stands to benefit from new job opportunities and greater exports thanks to a project launched in Amman today.
Funded by the Government of Sweden, the Improving the International Competitiveness of the Textile and Clothing in Jordan project will be implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
Work on the project, which will form part of ITC’s MENATEX programme that provides support to four countries, was initiated in 2019. It will help improve the competitiveness of Jordanian textile exporters to stimulate job creation and improve economic benefits along the value chain.
As part of this, twenty companies have been selected to receive individual support to help them strengthen their operations, improve their social and environmental sustainability and connect with buyers.
The MENATEX Jordan project will also work to improve the ecosystem around the companies by providing assistance to four trade and investment support institutions to upgrade their service portfolio to members.
Jordan’s textile and clothing industry is one of the country’s main export sectors. In 2018, the country exported more than $1.8 billion worth of textiles and clothing, which was almost entirely comprised of knit apparel.
MENATEX, New Opportunities and Export Growth
The MENATEX project was launched by Imad Tarawneh, assistant secretary-general of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Hani Abu Hasasan, vice-president of the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
Commenting on the project, Abu Hasasan said it was crucial in providing greater information and access to stakeholders in the sector. He also underlined the importance of the textile and clothing sector to the Jordanian economy and called on eligible enterprises to benefit from this project.
Ihab Qadri, responsible for leather and garments at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said: ‘This project is an innovative opportunity to increase Jordan’s textile and clothing exports.
The MENATEX project is an opportunity for us to strengthen the industry and improve our trade connections with the other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.’
Eman Beseiso, Project Manager for Jordan at ITC, explained that ITC had conducted company assessments with enterprises, allowing for a greater understanding of how the sector operates and its priorities.
Going forward, we will in partnership with the beneficiaries find mutual agreement on the strategic plan and the roadmap for implementation’ Beseiso said.
The MENATEX project ‘Improving the international competitiveness of the textile and clothing sector in Jordan’ is part of the regional MENATEX programme that covers four countries in the MENA region: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. The International Trade Centre, with the support from the Swedish government, implements the programme, which is will until the end of 2021.
About ITC
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
International Trade Centre
Jarle Hetland, Media Officer
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