Amman, Oct. 1 (Petra) — Export House launched the “From Local to
Global” program to help Jordanian small and medium-sized industrial
and service companies that have never exported prepare to enter
regional and global markets.

The company launched the program in partnership with the Jordan
Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and under the supervision
of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.

The program aims to expand the base of Jordanian companies able to
export. It will build their readiness and improve their knowledge of
target markets and requirements, so they can take informed steps to
start exporting and reach new markets.

The program will provide technical and financial support to 100 small
and medium-sized companies across the Kingdom’s governorates.
Eligible companies must be officially registered, privately owned and
members of a Jordanian chamber of industry or commerce.

Yarub Qudah, minister of industry, trade and supply, sponsored the
launch ceremony. He said Jordan recognized over the past two decades
the importance of diversifying products and export markets. He added
this avoids reliance on a single market and strengthens the national
economy’s ability to withstand regional and international changes.

Qudah said Jordan has achieved a success story in diversifying its
exports and markets in recent years. He said strengthening export
capacity is a key pillar of a solid, robust and diversified economic
base. The limited size of the domestic market makes expanding abroad
and increasing exports necessary for economic growth, he added.

He said the government focuses on investing in the private sector and
building its productive and competitive capacities. The next phase
requires integration that starts with building companies’ capacities
and studying global market needs, then promoting national products
and services, and finally exporting, under the “Local to Global”
program.

He noted that the Industry Support Fund spent about JD80 million over
the past two and a half years and received German funding of €35
million. Work is under way on an agreement with the World Bank for
new financing of $80 million, he said.

Qudah stressed that these efforts are part of an integrated program
to support the industrial sector, boost its competitiveness and its
ability to reach foreign markets. He said they will help increase
exports and build a more competitive private sector.

Export House Chairman Maher Matalka said developing Jordanian exports
is a shared and integrated responsibility. He said it requires work
with the ministry, JEDCO, chambers of industry and commerce,
supporting and donor bodies, and public and private sector partners.

Matalka said this approach is the basis for sustainable impact and
for achieving the Economic Modernization Vision and the National
Export Strategy. He said the strategy gave attention to the services
sector for the first time.

It also focuses on providing technical and financial support to small
and medium-sized industrial and service companies, especially
first-time exporters, he added.

He described the program as a practical step to support Jordanian
companies, build their capacities and strengthen their export
readiness for regional and global markets.

Matalka urged companies that meet the program’s criteria to register
and benefit from it. He said this is in line with the program’s
message of helping companies move from knowing the market to entering
it, and from an export opportunity to export growth.

//Petra// NQ