Khaberni - A report by the Jordan Chamber of Industry revealed that the sector of food, supply, agricultural, and livestock industries in the kingdom covers on average more than 62 percent of the local market needs.
The report, prepared by the Chamber’s Department of Studies and Policies, noted that 70 percent of the sales of Jordanian industrial companies are directed towards the local market, demonstrating that the sector has significant capabilities to achieve local food security.
The report also noted that the kingdom achieves self-sufficiency in many types of food products including: dairy products, meats, poultry, beverage industry, eggs, cheese, canned goods, and legumes.
It highlighted the sub-sectors under the umbrella of the sector which include dairy and its products, animal products, meats, spices, seasonings, salt, flavorings, cereals, flour, starch, pastries, bakery products, potato chips, and corn.
Also falling under the sector's umbrella are cocoa products, sugar, chocolate, Eastern sweets, tahini, candies, and products manufactured from vegetables and fruits, beverages of all kinds, juices, vinegar, and mineral waters.
The report indicated that the number of establishments operating within the sectors of food, supply, agriculture, and livestock amounts to 2,600 establishments across the kingdom, with a capital of 674 million dinars, employing approximately 67,000 workers.
According to the report, the annual production volume of the sector amounts to 4.5 billion dinars, accounting for 28 percent of the total established production in the manufacturing industries, while the value added created by its production processes reaches 1.8 billion dinars.
The report highlighted that every dinar spent within the food industries directly and indirectly contributes to the national economy by an amount of 2.6 dinar, which confirms the sector's ability to enhance the added value in the national economy.
It pointed out that the exports of the food, supply, agriculture, and livestock sectors reach 109 countries around the world, led by Saudi Arabia with a share of 24 percent, Iraq 18 percent, the UAE 11 percent, and Qatar, the United States, and Kuwait 4 percent each.
The report noted that the sector possesses export opportunities that are still untapped valued at approximately 310 million dollars spread over the processed or preserved food products industries and products of dairy, eggs, and honey.
According to the report, the sector is among the priority sectors in the economic modernization vision, which aims to increase its contribution to the gross domestic product by 2.9 percent by the year 2033, compared to 1.5 percent according to the estimates of 2021.
The economic modernization vision aims to increase the number of workers within the sector to about 72,000 workers by the year 2033, and to increase its exports to 4.3 billion dinars during the same year.
