Amman, July 13 (Petra) — The King Abdullah II Center for Excellence
(KACE) hosted an awareness workshop in the coastal city of Aqaba on
Monday to promote a national workplace gender certification framework
for private sector industrial firms.

The initiative, known as the Institutional Stamp for Supporting and
Empowering Women, aims to foster inclusive employment opportunities
and sustainable workplace environments across Jordan’s industrial
sector.

The workshop was organized in partnership with the German Agency for
International Cooperation (GIZ) under its Green Action in Enterprises
(GAIN) project, alongside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
(ASEZA) and Sarh International for Consulting and Training Company.

“Supporting and empowering women has become a key enabler of
institutional excellence and a fundamental factor in boosting the
competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises,” KACE Executive
Director Wedad Qutishat said during the opening session.

Qutishat explained that the certification system is a joint national
effort developed alongside the Ministerial Committee for Women’s
Empowerment, the Jordanian National Commission for Women, and the
Ministry of Social Development. She added that the framework helps
private and public entities align their operations with the country’s
broader economic modernization vision and global sustainable
development goals.

The initiative operates as a comprehensive development program rather
than a static certificate, guiding companies to review hiring
policies, promote equal opportunity, and assist women in reaching
leadership and decision-making positions, Qteishat noted.

Karimah Aldabet, Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and
Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Affairs at ASEZA, said
that investing in human capital and providing merit-based
environments are essential drivers for regional economic growth.
Al-Dhabit affirmed ASEZA’s commitment to supporting inclusive
workplace practices to solidify Aqaba’s position as a leading
regional investment destination.

The workshop included detailed presentations on the evaluation
criteria, application procedures, and institutional benefits of
securing the certification stamp.

Participants were also briefed on the Promoting Inclusive Employment
Opportunities in the Industrial Sector (GAIN) project, which provides
support to manufacturing facilities adapting their infrastructure to
meet the needs of diverse workforces.

//Petra// AF