Amman, Feb. 21 (Petra) – The leather and garment industry has emerged as a primary catalyst for Jordan’s regional industrial expansion, serving as a strategic cornerstone for the Kingdom’s Economic Modernization Vision (EMV), according to Ihab Qadri, representative of the sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
Qadri detailed to Petra that the sector’s current trajectory is defined by its unique ability to synchronize high-density employment with geographic decentralization, leveraging the "Production Branches" initiative as a direct executive vehicle for national development. As the EMV enters its second phase, this sector remains one of the few industrial pillars capable of simultaneously driving large-scale job creation and rural economic integration.
According to Qadri’s briefing to Petra, the industry’s strategic weight is underscored by its exceptional capacity to absorb the domestic workforce, currently employing approximately 30,000 Jordanians across the production lifecycle. The sector has proven particularly effective in elevating economic participation rates for women and youth in peripheral governorates, where traditional investment infrastructure often lags. Under the current modernization roadmap, the sector is tasked with a monumental employment target of 149,000 new positions over the coming years – a figure that reflects its disproportionate importance to Jordan’s macroeconomic stability.
The operational strategy relies heavily on the expansion of satellite production units linked to established industrial hubs. This model, Qadri noted, facilitates a rapid localization of the labor force by bringing specialized technical roles directly to local communities. By aligning employment with demand-driven vocational training, the sector is effectively bridging the skills gap. Furthermore, this expansion allows for the deepening of local value chains, transitioning the industry from assembly-centric operations to high-value-added manufacturing. This shift is expected to bolster export competitiveness and ensure that the transition from temporary placement to sustainable, export-led employment is permanent.
Qadri concluded by framing the "Production Branches" initiative as a gold standard for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Since its inception in 2008 following Royal directives, the initiative has matured into a tripartite success story: Royal Initiatives provide the foundational infrastructure, the government delivers first-year operational subsidies, and the private sector assumes the risk of management, training, and long-term hiring. With 36 branches currently active – 31 of which are dedicated to leather and textiles – the initiative has already secured livelihoods for 10,000 Jordanians, achieving a female participation rate exceeding 70% in several regions and fundamentally altering the socio-economic landscape of Jordan’s rural interior.
//Petra// AA
