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
