Industrialists: Jordanian Exports Have an Opportunity to Confront Global Challenges
last updated: Apr 13,2025
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Industrialists have confirmed that Jordanian industrial exports have an opportunity to face the challenges of global trade by entering new markets, increasing the competitiveness of national products through cost reduction, and benefiting from existing trade agreements and signing new ones with promising, non-traditional markets.
In interviews with the Jordan News Agency (Petra), they called for the adoption of comprehensive strategies that consider mechanisms to stimulate exports, based on global changes, aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Export Strategy. They also stressed the importance of targeting markets based on different economic blocs and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.
According to a statistical report by the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Jordan's exports last year were distributed among several sectors: chemical products and cosmetics (23%), leather and textiles (22%), engineering and electrical industries (18%), mining industries (13%), food and supply industries (10%), and medical and healthcare supplies (7.8%), among others.
The industrial sector produces around 1,500 goods annually worth 17 billion dinars, with about 1,400 of these exported to markets in 150 countries. The sector comprises around 18,000 production facilities across the Kingdom—16,200 of which are craft establishments and 1,800 industrial establishments. The annual growth rate of industrial establishments is approximately 0.3%.
In 2024, the growth rate of industrial exports reached about 1.4%, totaling 7.8 billion dinars compared to the previous year, representing around 92% of total national exports. Industrial exports covered about 41.2% of imports.
Senator Ahmad Al-Khudari, President of the Jordan Exporters Association, emphasized that the whole world could be a market for Jordanian products. He called for expanding exports by activating several agreements, such as the "Mercosur" agreement with Latin American countries, which stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and leveraging preferential export lists to avoid market saturation.
He highlighted that Latin America offers high population density and strong purchasing power. He also noted Jordan's plan to sign a free trade agreement with a country in the Horn of Africa, calling for more trade missions and participation in international exhibitions. He added that industry chambers, the Exporters Association, and the Export House are continuously working to identify new markets and opportunities for Jordanian products.
Al-Khudari suggested establishing trade relations with Russia, a large market that can be leveraged. He urged reducing customs duties by about 10% to maintain the competitiveness of Jordanian products, similar to neighboring countries, and to preserve the current export levels.
Engineer Fares Hamoudeh, President of Zarqa Chamber of Industry, stated that exports are one of the main drivers of economic growth and a genuine source for the Central Bank’s foreign reserves. He described exports as an excellent environment for generating sustainable job opportunities.
Hamoudeh noted that enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector and penetrating global markets are among the most critical challenges facing Jordanian industries, given the limited domestic market. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that incorporates mechanisms to stimulate exports.
He pointed out that the Economic Modernization Vision includes plans to double exports, and the National Export Strategy implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade addresses key aspects of export support.
Hamoudeh also stressed the importance of supporting industrial companies in opening new markets by focusing on high-quality, specialized Jordanian products, especially those with international brand recognition in food, engineering, and chemical industries.
He added that global market needs vary from country to country, and increasing industrial exports requires adapting local regulations to allow production of goods that meet the specifications of target countries. Some input materials permitted in foreign countries are not allowed under Jordanian specifications, limiting investment potential in export-oriented industries.
He called for income tax exemptions or reductions on industrial exports to reduce production costs and support the competitiveness of the industrial sector. This, in turn, would strengthen existing industries, increase exports, and attract export-focused industrial investments.
Hamoudeh also emphasized the importance of strengthening linkages among local industries, especially through the establishment of a broad base of raw material factories, which would help reduce costs—particularly for raw materials with fluctuating prices that impact production costs.
He explained that targeting international markets varies by economic bloc. After signing the Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., Jordan's industrial exports to the U.S. significantly increased due to full exemptions, until a 20% reciprocal tariff was recently imposed. He expressed hope that Jordan could renegotiate this with the U.S. to reduce or eliminate the tariffs.
He added that the only way to increase industrial exports to the EU is by attracting European companies to establish factories in Jordan and sell their products to EU markets. He also called for targeting Asian and African markets, particularly for raw materials and intermediate inputs in the chemical and fertilizer industries.
Majdi Al-Hashelmon, a board member of the Amman Chamber of Industry, said several actions are needed to boost Jordanian exports. These include conducting studies to identify target export countries, understanding their specific product requirements, and pinpointing Jordanian product strengths in quality and uniqueness.
He called for identifying export barriers—such as costs and fees—and finding ways to overcome them. Following these studies, a marketing campaign should be launched in cooperation between the public and private sectors in target countries, highlighting the competitive advantages of Jordanian products.
He emphasized the need for an incentive program for Jordanian manufacturers that rewards those who successfully enter new markets.
Engineer Fawaz Al-Shakaa, representative of the craft industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said most countries are moving toward protecting their products. He emphasized the importance of domestic substitution—not just exports.
He encouraged giving local products priority in the domestic market, especially given the trade deficits with countries like Turkey and Egypt, which present many commercial barriers that prevent Jordanian products from entering their markets.
Local studies show that for every billion dinars saved through domestic substitution, about 80,000 Jordanians can be employed—equivalent to 400,000 jobs.
Industrialist Abdel Hakim Zaza said Jordanian industrial exports could double their performance globally if they receive proper support. He noted that the sector faces several challenges that hinder its ability to increase and diversify exports both in product and geography.
Among the main challenges, he mentioned high production costs that make Jordanian products less competitive internationally, despite their high quality. He also pointed to weak promotion and the difficulty of meeting some international standards and requirements.
Zaza added that to expand exports, production costs must be reduced to ensure strong price competitiveness. He emphasized the need to work harder to explore and expand into new markets to avoid risks tied to over-reliance on traditional markets.
He called for raising export readiness and strengthening global supply chain connectivity by introducing mechanisms for e-commerce, improving transportation and logistics services, and leveraging Jordan’s competitive geographic location as a global trade gateway with access to over 1.5 billion consumers.
According to the International Trade Centre, Jordan has around $6 billion in untapped export potential to various global markets, even with the current production volume. These opportunities are spread across countries such as India ($1.4 billion), the U.S. ($900 million), Saudi Arabia ($650 million), China ($400 million), and the UAE (over $270 million).
A recent position paper by the Jordan Strategy Forum titled "Enhancing Trade Balance Resilience in the Face of the New Global Trade Map" emphasized the importance of leveraging export opportunities in several regions, including: the Middle East (1.064 billion dinars), South Asia (993 million dinars), North America (Canada and Mexico – 100 million dinars), the European Union and Western Europe (551 million dinars), and East Asia (477 million dinars).
The report highlighted latent opportunities in various commodity groups, most notably: fertilizers (993 million dinars), chemical products (780 million dinars), apparel (560 million dinars), mineral resources (545 million dinars), and jewelry and precious metals (348 million dinars).
It also pointed to significant domestic substitution opportunities in sectors like food industries (700 million dinars), clothing (300 million dinars), packaging (170 million dinars), and plastic industries (150 million dinars).
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Industrialists have confirmed that Jordanian industrial exports have an opportunity to face the challenges of global trade by entering new markets, increasing the competitiveness of national products through cost reduction, and benefiting from existing trade agreements and signing new ones with promising, non-traditional markets.
In interviews with the Jordan News Agency (Petra), they called for the adoption of comprehensive strategies that consider mechanisms to stimulate exports, based on global changes, aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Export Strategy. They also stressed the importance of targeting markets based on different economic blocs and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.
According to a statistical report by the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Jordan's exports last year were distributed among several sectors: chemical products and cosmetics (23%), leather and textiles (22%), engineering and electrical industries (18%), mining industries (13%), food and supply industries (10%), and medical and healthcare supplies (7.8%), among others.
The industrial sector produces around 1,500 goods annually worth 17 billion dinars, with about 1,400 of these exported to markets in 150 countries. The sector comprises around 18,000 production facilities across the Kingdom—16,200 of which are craft establishments and 1,800 industrial establishments. The annual growth rate of industrial establishments is approximately 0.3%.
In 2024, the growth rate of industrial exports reached about 1.4%, totaling 7.8 billion dinars compared to the previous year, representing around 92% of total national exports. Industrial exports covered about 41.2% of imports.
Senator Ahmad Al-Khudari, President of the Jordan Exporters Association, emphasized that the whole world could be a market for Jordanian products. He called for expanding exports by activating several agreements, such as the "Mercosur" agreement with Latin American countries, which stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and leveraging preferential export lists to avoid market saturation.
He highlighted that Latin America offers high population density and strong purchasing power. He also noted Jordan's plan to sign a free trade agreement with a country in the Horn of Africa, calling for more trade missions and participation in international exhibitions. He added that industry chambers, the Exporters Association, and the Export House are continuously working to identify new markets and opportunities for Jordanian products.
Al-Khudari suggested establishing trade relations with Russia, a large market that can be leveraged. He urged reducing customs duties by about 10% to maintain the competitiveness of Jordanian products, similar to neighboring countries, and to preserve the current export levels.
Engineer Fares Hamoudeh, President of Zarqa Chamber of Industry, stated that exports are one of the main drivers of economic growth and a genuine source for the Central Bank’s foreign reserves. He described exports as an excellent environment for generating sustainable job opportunities.
Hamoudeh noted that enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector and penetrating global markets are among the most critical challenges facing Jordanian industries, given the limited domestic market. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that incorporates mechanisms to stimulate exports.
He pointed out that the Economic Modernization Vision includes plans to double exports, and the National Export Strategy implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade addresses key aspects of export support.
Hamoudeh also stressed the importance of supporting industrial companies in opening new markets by focusing on high-quality, specialized Jordanian products, especially those with international brand recognition in food, engineering, and chemical industries.
He added that global market needs vary from country to country, and increasing industrial exports requires adapting local regulations to allow production of goods that meet the specifications of target countries. Some input materials permitted in foreign countries are not allowed under Jordanian specifications, limiting investment potential in export-oriented industries.
He called for income tax exemptions or reductions on industrial exports to reduce production costs and support the competitiveness of the industrial sector. This, in turn, would strengthen existing industries, increase exports, and attract export-focused industrial investments.
Hamoudeh also emphasized the importance of strengthening linkages among local industries, especially through the establishment of a broad base of raw material factories, which would help reduce costs—particularly for raw materials with fluctuating prices that impact production costs.
He explained that targeting international markets varies by economic bloc. After signing the Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., Jordan's industrial exports to the U.S. significantly increased due to full exemptions, until a 20% reciprocal tariff was recently imposed. He expressed hope that Jordan could renegotiate this with the U.S. to reduce or eliminate the tariffs.
He added that the only way to increase industrial exports to the EU is by attracting European companies to establish factories in Jordan and sell their products to EU markets. He also called for targeting Asian and African markets, particularly for raw materials and intermediate inputs in the chemical and fertilizer industries.
Majdi Al-Hashelmon, a board member of the Amman Chamber of Industry, said several actions are needed to boost Jordanian exports. These include conducting studies to identify target export countries, understanding their specific product requirements, and pinpointing Jordanian product strengths in quality and uniqueness.
He called for identifying export barriers—such as costs and fees—and finding ways to overcome them. Following these studies, a marketing campaign should be launched in cooperation between the public and private sectors in target countries, highlighting the competitive advantages of Jordanian products.
He emphasized the need for an incentive program for Jordanian manufacturers that rewards those who successfully enter new markets.
Engineer Fawaz Al-Shakaa, representative of the craft industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said most countries are moving toward protecting their products. He emphasized the importance of domestic substitution—not just exports.
He encouraged giving local products priority in the domestic market, especially given the trade deficits with countries like Turkey and Egypt, which present many commercial barriers that prevent Jordanian products from entering their markets.
Local studies show that for every billion dinars saved through domestic substitution, about 80,000 Jordanians can be employed—equivalent to 400,000 jobs.
Industrialist Abdel Hakim Zaza said Jordanian industrial exports could double their performance globally if they receive proper support. He noted that the sector faces several challenges that hinder its ability to increase and diversify exports both in product and geography.
Among the main challenges, he mentioned high production costs that make Jordanian products less competitive internationally, despite their high quality. He also pointed to weak promotion and the difficulty of meeting some international standards and requirements.
Zaza added that to expand exports, production costs must be reduced to ensure strong price competitiveness. He emphasized the need to work harder to explore and expand into new markets to avoid risks tied to over-reliance on traditional markets.
He called for raising export readiness and strengthening global supply chain connectivity by introducing mechanisms for e-commerce, improving transportation and logistics services, and leveraging Jordan’s competitive geographic location as a global trade gateway with access to over 1.5 billion consumers.
According to the International Trade Centre, Jordan has around $6 billion in untapped export potential to various global markets, even with the current production volume. These opportunities are spread across countries such as India ($1.4 billion), the U.S. ($900 million), Saudi Arabia ($650 million), China ($400 million), and the UAE (over $270 million).
A recent position paper by the Jordan Strategy Forum titled "Enhancing Trade Balance Resilience in the Face of the New Global Trade Map" emphasized the importance of leveraging export opportunities in several regions, including: the Middle East (1.064 billion dinars), South Asia (993 million dinars), North America (Canada and Mexico – 100 million dinars), the European Union and Western Europe (551 million dinars), and East Asia (477 million dinars).
The report highlighted latent opportunities in various commodity groups, most notably: fertilizers (993 million dinars), chemical products (780 million dinars), apparel (560 million dinars), mineral resources (545 million dinars), and jewelry and precious metals (348 million dinars).
It also pointed to significant domestic substitution opportunities in sectors like food industries (700 million dinars), clothing (300 million dinars), packaging (170 million dinars), and plastic industries (150 million dinars).
In interviews with the Jordan News Agency (Petra), they called for the adoption of comprehensive strategies that consider mechanisms to stimulate exports, based on global changes, aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Export Strategy. They also stressed the importance of targeting markets based on different economic blocs and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.
According to a statistical report by the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Jordan's exports last year were distributed among several sectors: chemical products and cosmetics (23%), leather and textiles (22%), engineering and electrical industries (18%), mining industries (13%), food and supply industries (10%), and medical and healthcare supplies (7.8%), among others.
The industrial sector produces around 1,500 goods annually worth 17 billion dinars, with about 1,400 of these exported to markets in 150 countries. The sector comprises around 18,000 production facilities across the Kingdom—16,200 of which are craft establishments and 1,800 industrial establishments. The annual growth rate of industrial establishments is approximately 0.3%.
In 2024, the growth rate of industrial exports reached about 1.4%, totaling 7.8 billion dinars compared to the previous year, representing around 92% of total national exports. Industrial exports covered about 41.2% of imports.
Senator Ahmad Al-Khudari, President of the Jordan Exporters Association, emphasized that the whole world could be a market for Jordanian products. He called for expanding exports by activating several agreements, such as the "Mercosur" agreement with Latin American countries, which stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and leveraging preferential export lists to avoid market saturation.
He highlighted that Latin America offers high population density and strong purchasing power. He also noted Jordan's plan to sign a free trade agreement with a country in the Horn of Africa, calling for more trade missions and participation in international exhibitions. He added that industry chambers, the Exporters Association, and the Export House are continuously working to identify new markets and opportunities for Jordanian products.
Al-Khudari suggested establishing trade relations with Russia, a large market that can be leveraged. He urged reducing customs duties by about 10% to maintain the competitiveness of Jordanian products, similar to neighboring countries, and to preserve the current export levels.
Engineer Fares Hamoudeh, President of Zarqa Chamber of Industry, stated that exports are one of the main drivers of economic growth and a genuine source for the Central Bank’s foreign reserves. He described exports as an excellent environment for generating sustainable job opportunities.
Hamoudeh noted that enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector and penetrating global markets are among the most critical challenges facing Jordanian industries, given the limited domestic market. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that incorporates mechanisms to stimulate exports.
He pointed out that the Economic Modernization Vision includes plans to double exports, and the National Export Strategy implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade addresses key aspects of export support.
Hamoudeh also stressed the importance of supporting industrial companies in opening new markets by focusing on high-quality, specialized Jordanian products, especially those with international brand recognition in food, engineering, and chemical industries.
He added that global market needs vary from country to country, and increasing industrial exports requires adapting local regulations to allow production of goods that meet the specifications of target countries. Some input materials permitted in foreign countries are not allowed under Jordanian specifications, limiting investment potential in export-oriented industries.
He called for income tax exemptions or reductions on industrial exports to reduce production costs and support the competitiveness of the industrial sector. This, in turn, would strengthen existing industries, increase exports, and attract export-focused industrial investments.
Hamoudeh also emphasized the importance of strengthening linkages among local industries, especially through the establishment of a broad base of raw material factories, which would help reduce costs—particularly for raw materials with fluctuating prices that impact production costs.
He explained that targeting international markets varies by economic bloc. After signing the Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., Jordan's industrial exports to the U.S. significantly increased due to full exemptions, until a 20% reciprocal tariff was recently imposed. He expressed hope that Jordan could renegotiate this with the U.S. to reduce or eliminate the tariffs.
He added that the only way to increase industrial exports to the EU is by attracting European companies to establish factories in Jordan and sell their products to EU markets. He also called for targeting Asian and African markets, particularly for raw materials and intermediate inputs in the chemical and fertilizer industries.
Majdi Al-Hashelmon, a board member of the Amman Chamber of Industry, said several actions are needed to boost Jordanian exports. These include conducting studies to identify target export countries, understanding their specific product requirements, and pinpointing Jordanian product strengths in quality and uniqueness.
He called for identifying export barriers—such as costs and fees—and finding ways to overcome them. Following these studies, a marketing campaign should be launched in cooperation between the public and private sectors in target countries, highlighting the competitive advantages of Jordanian products.
He emphasized the need for an incentive program for Jordanian manufacturers that rewards those who successfully enter new markets.
Engineer Fawaz Al-Shakaa, representative of the craft industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said most countries are moving toward protecting their products. He emphasized the importance of domestic substitution—not just exports.
He encouraged giving local products priority in the domestic market, especially given the trade deficits with countries like Turkey and Egypt, which present many commercial barriers that prevent Jordanian products from entering their markets.
Local studies show that for every billion dinars saved through domestic substitution, about 80,000 Jordanians can be employed—equivalent to 400,000 jobs.
Industrialist Abdel Hakim Zaza said Jordanian industrial exports could double their performance globally if they receive proper support. He noted that the sector faces several challenges that hinder its ability to increase and diversify exports both in product and geography.
Among the main challenges, he mentioned high production costs that make Jordanian products less competitive internationally, despite their high quality. He also pointed to weak promotion and the difficulty of meeting some international standards and requirements.
Zaza added that to expand exports, production costs must be reduced to ensure strong price competitiveness. He emphasized the need to work harder to explore and expand into new markets to avoid risks tied to over-reliance on traditional markets.
He called for raising export readiness and strengthening global supply chain connectivity by introducing mechanisms for e-commerce, improving transportation and logistics services, and leveraging Jordan’s competitive geographic location as a global trade gateway with access to over 1.5 billion consumers.
According to the International Trade Centre, Jordan has around $6 billion in untapped export potential to various global markets, even with the current production volume. These opportunities are spread across countries such as India ($1.4 billion), the U.S. ($900 million), Saudi Arabia ($650 million), China ($400 million), and the UAE (over $270 million).
A recent position paper by the Jordan Strategy Forum titled "Enhancing Trade Balance Resilience in the Face of the New Global Trade Map" emphasized the importance of leveraging export opportunities in several regions, including: the Middle East (1.064 billion dinars), South Asia (993 million dinars), North America (Canada and Mexico – 100 million dinars), the European Union and Western Europe (551 million dinars), and East Asia (477 million dinars).
The report highlighted latent opportunities in various commodity groups, most notably: fertilizers (993 million dinars), chemical products (780 million dinars), apparel (560 million dinars), mineral resources (545 million dinars), and jewelry and precious metals (348 million dinars).
It also pointed to significant domestic substitution opportunities in sectors like food industries (700 million dinars), clothing (300 million dinars), packaging (170 million dinars), and plastic industries (150 million dinars).
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