Amman, June 1 (Petra) -- Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yarub Qudah said on Monday that foreign trade figures for the first quarter of the year reflect a resilient national economy with the ability of productive sectors to maintain their presence in external markets despite economic and regional challenges.
National exports rose by 1.6% in the first quarter, reaching JD 2.129 billion, an indicator of growing competitiveness of Jordanian products and a wider access to global markets, he said.
The minister noted that export performance was concentrated in value-added industrial sectors, led by garments, crude potash, and pharmaceuticals, reflecting the diversity of Jordan’s productive base and its ability to meet the requirements of different markets.
Qudah said a notable rise in national exports to key markets, including Syria, 45.3%, China, 74.1%, and European Union countries, 69.9%, underscores successful government and private-sector efforts to open new markets and enhance trade relations with economic partners.
These positive indicators, he said, are the result of government policies to boost the competitiveness of the national industry, improve the business environment, and facilitate trade exchange, in addition to efforts under the Economic Modernization Vision to increase the contribution of the industrial and export sectors to growth.
The minister said the ministry continues to work in partnership with the private sector to address challenges facing exporters and capitalize on free trade agreements Jordan signed with global blocs and markets. He said these efforts strengthen Jordan’s standing as a regional hub for production and export, and create broader opportunities for national products to reach new and promising markets.
Qudah said imports declined by 2.9% during the same period, helping narrow the trade deficit by 6.3% to JD 1.907 billion. He added that the improvement in the total export-to-import coverage ratio to 59% is a positive indicator of stronger trade performance.
He pledged the ministry will continue implementing programs to support exports, develop external markets, and increase the added value of national industries, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision’s targets to raise national exports, stimulate industrial investment, and create quality jobs for Jordanians across the governorates.
//Petra// AO
