Amman, July 13 (Petra) -- The King Abdullah II Center for Excellence (KACE) hosted an awareness workshop in the coastal city of Aqaba on Monday to promote a national workplace gender certification framework for private sector industrial firms.

The initiative, known as the Institutional Stamp for Supporting and Empowering Women, aims to foster inclusive employment opportunities and sustainable workplace environments across Jordan's industrial sector.

The workshop was organized in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) under its Green Action in Enterprises (GAIN) project, alongside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and Sarh International for Consulting and Training Company.

"Supporting and empowering women has become a key enabler of institutional excellence and a fundamental factor in boosting the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises," KACE Executive Director Wedad Qutishat said during the opening session.

Qutishat explained that the certification system is a joint national effort developed alongside the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, the Jordanian National Commission for Women, and the Ministry of Social Development. She added that the framework helps private and public entities align their operations with the country's broader economic modernization vision and global sustainable development goals.

The initiative operates as a comprehensive development program rather than a static certificate, guiding companies to review hiring policies, promote equal opportunity, and assist women in reaching leadership and decision-making positions, Qteishat noted.

Karimah Aldabet, Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Affairs at ASEZA, said that investing in human capital and providing merit-based environments are essential drivers for regional economic growth. Al-Dhabit affirmed ASEZA's commitment to supporting inclusive workplace practices to solidify Aqaba's position as a leading regional investment destination.

The workshop included detailed presentations on the evaluation criteria, application procedures, and institutional benefits of securing the certification stamp.

Participants were also briefed on the Promoting Inclusive Employment Opportunities in the Industrial Sector (GAIN) project, which provides support to manufacturing facilities adapting their infrastructure to meet the needs of diverse workforces.

//Petra// AF