Amman: The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply launched the "Leadership in Industry" programme on Sunday, implemented through the Industrial Development and Support Fund with £35 million in funding from the German government.
According to Jordan News Agency, the programme aims to support 370 micro, small, and medium-sized industrial enterprises by enhancing competitiveness, boosting exports, and creating jobs. It provides non-refundable grants of up to JD25,000 for micro-enterprises, JD50,000 for small enterprises, and JD100,000 for medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, £10 million is allocated to support women-led businesses and promote women's economic participation through technical and logistical assistance.
The Fund will cover up to 70 percent of eligible project costs, increasing to 80 percent for businesses owned or managed by women or those that create employment opportunities for women. Speaking at the launch, Ministry Secretary-General Dana Zoubi emphasized that the programme supports the Economic Modernisation Vision and the Industrial Policy 2024-2028, aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Jordanian industry and increasing its contribution to economic growth.
Zoubi stated that the industrial sector accounts for about one-quarter of the national economy and contributed nearly 45 percent of Jordan's economic growth last year. She added that the Industrial Development and Support Fund has received more than 2,500 applications, benefiting 635 companies whose sales increased by more than 30 percent and exports by around 40 percent, while helping create more than 4,100 jobs.
Zoubi also revealed preliminary understandings with the World Bank to secure around JD60 million in additional funding for the period 2027-2029 to expand industrial support programmes. Jordan Chamber of Industry Vice President Mohammad Jitan highlighted that more than 90 percent of the Kingdom's industrial establishments are small and medium-sized enterprises requiring continued financial support to expand and improve competitiveness.
Jitan noted that Fund programmes have helped companies overcome financing and operating cost challenges while increasing productivity and exports. World Bank representative Mohammad Abdel-Qader mentioned that the initiative is the result of nearly three years of cooperation between Jordan, Germany, and the World Bank, focusing on supporting small businesses, promoting development in the governorates, and increasing women's participation in the industrial workforce.
German Development Bank office director Matthias Schmidt-Rosen affirmed that support for Jordan's industrial sector remains a cornerstone of cooperation with the government, with ongoing efforts to develop financing programmes that promote competitiveness, economic growth, and job creation.