Amman, Oct. 12 (Petra) — The E-Commerce Programme for Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) has been launched under a regional
project aimed at strengthening digital trade and e-commerce across
the Middle East and North Africa. The project is being implemented in
cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, the
International Trade Centre (ITC), the German Agency for International
Cooperation (GIZ), and the European Union.

Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ), the programme was announced during a dialogue
workshop titled “Digital Trade and Professional Services:
Strengthening Jordan’s Position as a Regional Hub.”

The initiative aims to expand business opportunities and support job
creation in the region by working with both the public and private
sectors. It focuses on helping public institutions improve policies
and regulatory frameworks governing digital trade, while the ITC
supports businesses in developing the skills and tools needed to
export their services to international markets.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Dana
Al-Zoubi stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships among
the public and private sectors, business support organisations and
financing institutions to improve the digital trade environment,
address existing challenges and expand exports of digital and
professional services.

She said digital trade has become a major driver of economic growth
and international commerce amid rapid changes in the global economy.
Its scope now extends beyond online product sales to include the
digital marketing, delivery and export of services, she added.

Al-Zoubi noted that the Kingdom has promising opportunities to
strengthen its position in this field, supported by a skilled
workforce and specialised companies in information technology and
innovation. These strengths could help local businesses compete in
regional and international markets and expand their service exports.

She added that the government, in cooperation with its partners, has
been working to create an enabling environment for digital trade,
drawing on studies and surveys that identified the sector’s main
requirements. Priorities include strengthening government policies
and strategies, improving regulatory frameworks, addressing shipping
costs and enhancing logistical support.

Executive Director of the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation
(JEDCO) Ghaleb Hijazi said changing global trade patterns offer
significant opportunities, given the Kingdom’s skilled workforce and
professional expertise in sectors such as information technology,
consulting, engineering and creative industries.

These sectors can help diversify exports, create specialised jobs and
strengthen the international presence of local expertise, he said.

Hijazi stressed that success in international markets requires more
than technical expertise and high-quality services. Businesses must
also develop effective digital marketing strategies, reach target
customers and establish competitive business models capable of
sustaining growth over the long term.

He added that sustainable support programmes should go beyond
providing grants to building businesses’ capabilities, enabling them
to continue growing and delivering results after programme assistance
ends.

Wael Shuqairat, head of a committee at the Jordan Chamber of
Commerce, said the Kingdom has made significant progress in recent
years under royal directives and the Economic Modernisation Vision,
particularly in telecommunications infrastructure, legislation
supporting innovation, electronic payments and digital services.

These advances have strengthened the ability of national institutions
and companies in the trade and services sectors to compete
internationally and export specialised expertise, particularly in
consulting, information technology, engineering, financial, legal and
educational services, he said.

Shuqairat described the trade and services sectors as key drivers of
the national economy and employment. He highlighted the Chamber’s
role in advancing digital business through cooperation with
government institutions and international partners to develop
flexible regulatory frameworks that facilitate cross-border service
delivery and financial transactions.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening local companies’
capabilities, preparing exporters to meet international best
practices, and identifying logistical, regulatory and financial
barriers so that practical and sustainable solutions can be
developed.

Sawsan Ben Ramadan, the International Trade Centre’s programme
manager for the Middle East and North Africa, said the Kingdom has
promising potential to expand service exports, drawing on its skilled
workforce and expertise in information and communications technology,
consulting, engineering and creative industries.

She said turning this potential into tangible export growth requires
identifying the practical obstacles businesses face when entering
international markets, assessing gaps between their needs and
available support programmes, and addressing those gaps through
better coordination and more effective assistance.

Ben Ramadan added that providing appropriate support requires a clear
understanding of the challenges facing businesses, while companies’
ability to benefit from government programmes depends partly on their
awareness of available services. She emphasised the importance of
sustained, open dialogue between public institutions and
private-sector representatives.

//Petra// WH