Khaberni - During a meeting of the Parliamentary Financial Committee in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yarub Al-Qudah, expressed the importance of bolstering the trade and industry sector in Jordan, pointing out several key points that contribute to supporting the national economy and expanding the horizons of foreign trade.
Al-Qudah stated that the value of postal parcels that arrived in Jordan last year amounted to about 350 million dinars, noting that these parcels are not counted within the Gross Domestic Product despite their large volume, reflecting the importance of e-commerce in the national economy.
Al-Qudah confirmed that the ministry is working on establishing an electronic platform dedicated to selling products from small national projects, with the aim to support these projects and encourage them to reach broader markets, thereby enhancing their contribution to the national economy and aiding the development of the local industrial sector.
Al-Qudah explained that increasing the exports of the Jordanian industrial sector represents one of the main solutions to reduce the trade deficit.
He added that the ministry follows a production plan aimed at increasing the competitiveness of local industries, in line with market needs and the aspirations of the industrial sector and the chambers of industry.
The minister also talked about the Industry Support Fund, which contributes to empowering the industrial sector. He noted that the fund will continue over the next three years without the government incurring any additional financial burdens, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to providing necessary support to the industrial sector without impacting public finance.
In matters of foreign trade, Al-Qudah affirmed that the African market is promising for Jordanian industries. He pointed out that entering the African market is not easy, however, the ministry has worked on targeting East Africa, specifically Rwanda, to sign a preferential trade agreement next April.
He added that this agreement will be an important gateway for Jordanian industries to enter the African market.
Al-Qudah also announced the ministry's plan to enter the Asian market by signing a trade agreement with Uzbekistan after the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, confirming that this agreement will enhance trade exchange with Asian markets, thus opening new markets for Jordanian industries.
Finally, Al-Qudah emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation between the government and the private sector in order to enhance the competitiveness of the Jordanian industry both locally and internationally, explaining that the ministry will continue to work on improving the business environment and providing necessary support to the industrial sector amidst current economic challenges.
