Amman, Feb 2 (Petra) - The Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, Dana Al-Zoubi, chaired the regular meeting of the National Team for Implementing the Industrial Policy 2024–2028, in the presence of team members from chambers of industry, representatives of industrial sectors, and concerned public-sector entities.

According to a ministry statement issued on Monday, the meeting reviewed key achievements made during 2025 under the three pillars of the industrial policy and discussed existing challenges and future action plans.

Within the competitiveness and productivity pillar, the meeting reviewed progress in several strategic projects aimed at reducing production costs, enhancing resource-use efficiency, and building human and technical capacities capable of keeping pace with current and future industrial sector requirements.

Regarding production cost reduction, progress was reviewed in projects to lower energy costs, including the establishment of natural gas distribution networks in the Qastal and Hashemiyah industrial zones and supplying factories with natural gas at a capacity of up to 15 million cubic feet per day. This was in addition to implementing the National Energy Efficiency Programme in industrial facilities, under which 60 tripartite agreements were signed with factories, 28 energy audit studies were prepared, and 15 technical studies were conducted focusing on cleaner production and efficient resource use.

During 2025, studies were also launched on the status of public transport services in several industrial cities, contributing to easing operational burdens on factories and workers. The team recommended expanding the project to industrial cluster areas.

In the context of accelerating the transition toward a circular economy, the national team reviewed progress in implementing supportive projects, foremost among them the launch of the first national digital platform for exchanging non-hazardous industrial waste, enabling its reuse as production inputs among different industries. This contributes to reducing environmental impact and lowering costs. The number of companies interacting with the platform has exceeded 170.

Progress was also presented on the Zarqa Green Industrial City project, implemented by the Jordan Industrial Estates Company at a total cost of about 38 million dinars, with 98% of foundational works completed, alongside the start of implementation of the project to connect the industrial city to the Zarqa–Azraq road.

Regarding skills development to meet current and future demand in the industrial sector, gap analysis studies between supply and demand were completed for five industrial sectors by the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission. New target sectors were also identified in preparation for establishing sectoral skills councils. Progress was reviewed on the production branches programme in Mafraq Governorate (Al Baseliyah Municipality), as well as the operation of four new production branches in Mafraq, Maan, Madaba, and Karak. This included qualifying more than 400 vocational trainers through advanced training programmes and approving 45 flexible curricula.

Work is underway to train more than 200 engineers, factory workers, and new graduates to strengthen innovation infrastructure through specialized workshops covering various fields and applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Advisory services were provided to 18 factories in artificial intelligence, and agreements were signed to support five entrepreneurial ideas in technology for incubation and conversion into viable projects.

Under the manufacturing value-added pillar, progress was reviewed in preparing sectoral strategies for high value-added industries in food, engineering, and chemical sectors, with completion expected by May this year.

In terms of improving the quality of existing industries, 240 technical standards were prepared in 2025, alongside implementing programmes related to the Green Factory Award and supporting factories holding quality marks and preferential advantages.

Regarding strengthening value chains and creating linkages among local industries, technical upgrades to the SMEHUB platform were completed to make it an integrated digital model supporting small and medium enterprises efficiently and smoothly through an improved user interface, advanced classification system, and comprehensive database. Results of advanced studies analyzing forward linkages in several sectors were also reviewed, with recommendations to begin implementing qualification and networking programmes.

On increasing the share of national products in local markets, updates were presented on the "Made in Jordan" program by the Amman Chamber of Industry, including the announcement of factories meeting logo requirements. The second version of the Jordanian application was launched to provide a comprehensive directory of Jordanian industrial products, facilitate consumer access to local products, and offer companies a platform to display their products, with direct shopping and digital store features.

Regarding export diversification, participants discussed progress in export support programmes, including signing agreements for the second round of the Export Promotion Programme to support 73 small and medium industrial companies, with funding exceeding JD5.7 million.

Participants stressed the need to intensify efforts to implement approved plans for 2026 to ensure achievement of strategic objectives within the specified timeframe.

The Industrial Policy Document for 2024–2028, approved by the Cabinet, is based on the Economic Modernisation Vision and aims to develop five high-value industries through three main pillars: competitiveness and productivity, manufacturing value added, and product diversification.

//Petra// AF