Amman, Aug. 12 (Petra) – The national team for empowering women-owned
enterprises to access economic opportunities held its regular meeting
on Wednesday, hosted by the Jordan Forum for Business and
Professional Women, with the participation of businesswomen and
representatives of the public and private sectors.

The meeting reviewed key achievements and initiatives implemented by
the team’s working groups since the beginning of the year, as well as
plans for the next phase, aimed at strengthening coordination and
supporting women-owned and women-led enterprises in accessing growth
opportunities and markets.

Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply Secretary-General Dana Zoubi,
who chaired the meeting, stressed the importance of continued
cooperation to support women entrepreneurs, noting that the meeting
marked the team’s second visit conducted in cooperation with a
partner organization to strengthen coordination among national
stakeholders.

She reviewed the ministry’s main efforts since the beginning of the
year, including the preparation of final drafts of the food,
engineering, and chemical industries strategies under the 2024–2028
Industrial Policy and completion of the final draft of the 2026–2029
National Export Strategy. The 2026–2029 National E-Commerce Strategy
remains under preparation.

On industrial sector support, Zoubi said 635 companies benefited from
Industry Support and Development Fund programs worth approximately
JD65 million, including 173 women-owned or women-led companies that
received around JD21 million. The programs generated about 4,500 new
jobs for Jordanians, including more than 1,700 for women.

She also referred to the €35 million “Entrepreneurship in Industry”
program, which targets 370 micro, small, and medium-sized industrial
enterprises. The grant rate rises to 80 percent for enterprises owned
or managed by women or employing women, while €10 million has been
allocated to women-owned or women-led businesses.

Zoubi also pointed to the expected impact of the reciprocal trade
agreement with the United States, particularly its provision for full
tariff exemptions on Jordanian exports of apparel, textiles, leather,
and other products entering the U.S. market.

Regarding initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs, 25 women-owned
and/or women-led companies benefited from an export capacity-building
program, while 11 service companies participated in an export
promotion program. Four of those companies have applied the training
outcomes and are preparing to export to new markets.

A further 42 women-owned or women-led enterprises benefited from a
Jordan Valley products support project, and 42 export-readiness
assessments were prepared. Five women-owned companies also
participated in the FHA exhibition in Singapore, generating more than
60 business contacts and over 12,000 views through the exhibition
platform.

In the financial field, 18 women-owned enterprises benefited from the
“Improve Your Business” financial planning and management program,
while e-commerce and digital marketing solutions are being developed
for nine companies across various sectors.

The meeting also reviewed programs planned for the next phase,
including training for women-owned companies in innovation and
sustainability, as well as financial planning and management. It also
discussed implementing the “How to Export” program in cooperation
with the GIZ-IPSD project and Jordan Exports, with the aim of
improving the export readiness of 20 women-owned companies and
expanding their access to international markets.

Zoubi said the progress made provides a basis for further support for
women-owned enterprises, stressing the importance of coordination
between national policies and private-sector partnerships to support
sustainable economic growth.

//Petra// AO