Khaberni - The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, confirmed the organization's support for Jordan in expanding women's participation in digital trade, with the launch of the "Women Exporters in the Digital Economy" (WEIDE) program, which is implemented in cooperation with the International Trade Centre and the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation.
Okonjo-Iweala, during her virtual participation in the program launch, said that Jordan's selection for the implementation of the fund reflects the strength of its entrepreneurial system and the quality of its business-supporting institutions, indicating that this step represents a significant expansion of the organization’s programs in the Middle East, which has great potential in digital trade.
She pointed out that through the fund, the organization works to enable women-led companies to access global markets, especially through digital tools, given the opportunities digitalization provides in reducing trade barriers, noting that digital trade has become one of the main drivers of global economic growth.
Okonjo-Iweala added that initiatives like WEIDE aim to address the gaps facing women-led companies, especially in financing and access to technology, stressing that the organization strives to ensure greater inclusion in global trade, thereby allowing women to benefit from economic opportunities and create new jobs.
In this context, she explained that the program in Jordan will provide a comprehensive support model combining financing, technical assistance, mentoring, and access to international business networks, thereby enhancing the capability of women's projects to expand and compete in global markets.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Yaarub Qudah, stated that the launch of the fund is part of national efforts to enhance women's economic participation, affirming that the partnership with the World Trade Organization and the International Trade Centre represents an advanced level of international cooperation supporting inclusive trade.
He added that the fund serves as a practical tool to support women's projects through financing and technical support, enabling them to overcome challenges and gain access to international markets, while the government continues to implement economic and legislative reforms to support small and medium enterprises.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry and Acting Executive Director of the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation, Dana Al-Zu'bi, indicated that the program integrates with digital transformation efforts, explaining that selected projects will receive financial and technical support amounting to nearly two million dollars, in addition to specialized training programs.
The one-year program targets 46 projects led by Jordanian women, selected from among 469 applications, where they will be divided into two tracks; the first for emerging enterprises with grants up to $5,000, and the second for more advanced projects with grants up to $30,000, to support their expansion into global markets.
Okonjo-Iweala confirmed that the fund aims to enable female entrepreneurs in developing countries to enter international trade, especially through digital channels, in the face of the ongoing underrepresentation of women-led firms in global trade, noting the existence of a funding gap estimated at approximately 300 billion dollars faced by small and medium-sized women-owned enterprises.
She noted that engaging in international trade achieves tangible gains for women, as exporting companies are up to 50% more productive and offer higher wages, while women working in trade earn about three times more compared to those confined to local markets, thus enhancing their economic and social impact, especially through reinvesting income in education, health, and community development.
Regarding the digital economy, Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that digitization contributes to lowering barriers for companies, explaining that trade in digitally delivered services exceeded 4.6 trillion dollars in 2024, providing broader opportunities for small and medium enterprises to easily access global markets.
She added that the digital transformation is accelerating with the rise of artificial intelligence technologies, noting that the organization's reports indicate the potential to increase the value of global trade in goods and services by about 40% by 2040 if supportive policies are available, due to increased productivity and reduced trade costs.
The launch of the fund comes as part of the World Trade Organization's directions to promote inclusive digital trade and support developing economies, including Jordan, to increase their integration into the global economy and achieve sustainable growth.
