Amman, Aug. 8 (Petra) – Vice President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) and representative of the food industry sector, Mohammad Walid Jitan, announced locally manufactured food products cover over 62% of domestic market needs, making it a "cornerstone of the food security system." Jitan, in remarks to "Petra," said 70% of sales by companies operating in the food industry sector are directed to the local market to meet consumer needs and provide a "continuous supply of diverse and safe" food products.
He added that the sector's production capabilities also contribute to reducing reliance on imports for a number of food products and enhancing "resilience" of the local market in facing crises related to food availability and prices.
During various crises and exceptional circumstances, he said the sector has proven its ability to maintain "continuous" production and provide essential food commodities without interruption, benefiting from flexibility of local production chains and its capacity to respond to local demand and strengthen the strategic reserves of food commodities.
He stated food processing industry plays a "pivotal" role in enhancing national food security by providing an efficient local production base to meet a "significant" share of citizens' needs.
He noted that the current annual production within the sector reaches approximately JD4.5 billion, representing 28% of the total current production of the manufacturing industries.
According to Jitan, the sector is considered one of the key strategic sectors due to its central role in transforming agricultural and livestock produce into value-added food products.
He said this effort enhances these products' shelf life and storage and reduces food loss, which would contribute to achieving sustainability of food supplies, increasing efficiency of food value chains, and strengthening the national food security system.
He stated food industry plays a "pivotal" role in enhancing national food security by providing an efficient local production base to meet a "significant" stake of citizens' needs.
He said the current annual production within the sector reaches approximately JD4.5 billion, representing 28% of the total current production of manufacturing industries.
So far, Jitan said the food industry is one of the Kingdom's largest industrial sectors, whether in terms of the number of establishments, production volume, or workforce and comprises 2,600 industrial entities, employing more than 66,000 workers, while the sector's registered capital amounts to approximately JD674 million.
He stated: "Every dinar spent in the food industry generates JD2.6 of direct and indirect economic activity, which is the highest multiplier effect among many economic sectors." Over the past few years, he noted that exports from the food industry sector have witnessed "remarkable" growth, more than doubling in value from approximately JD458 million in 2021 to nearly JD926 million in 2025.
This growth reflects the increasing competitiveness of Jordanian food products and their expanding presence in international markets, he pointed out.
He remarked the sector's exports reach markets in 114 countries worldwide, as Saudi Arabia tops the list at 23% of total exports, followed by Iraq at 19%, the United Arab Emirates at 11%, the United States at 6%, and Qatar at 4%.
//Petra// AG
