Amman, June 2 (Petra) -- HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal visited the East Amman Industrial Investors Association (EAIIA) on Tuesday, where he reviewed the state of Jordan’s industrial sector and the key challenges and opportunities it faces, reflecting his continued interest in the role of industry in driving economic development and strengthening self-reliance.
The visit began with a tour of Al Shurook for Printing and Packaging Company, where Prince El Hassan was briefed on the latest technologies used in its production lines and received an overview of the company’s development and expansion plans aimed at enhancing competitiveness, improving product quality and expanding its presence in domestic and international markets. He praised the efforts of Jordan’s industrial sector to keep pace with technological advances and increase the value added of national production.
Prince El Hassan also met with several Jordanian and Arab investors and business leaders for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of investment and industry in Jordan, opportunities to strengthen regional economic partnerships and the importance of fostering an environment that supports innovation, production and employment.
During the meeting, Prince El Hassan said that the measures of national strength and stability in the 21st century are increasingly linked to countries’ ability to adapt, innovate and create opportunities. He stressed the importance of transforming Jordan’s geographic location into an effective development asset that places Jordanians at the center of the development process.
He said Jordan is capable of building economic and knowledge-based bridges across the region, adding that true strategic value lies in connectivity, integration and the alignment of shared interests.
Prince El Hassan noted that the selection of EAIIA to host the meeting carries important significance, describing East Amman as a model of production, entrepreneurship and self-reliance, as well as a major source of employment opportunities and national exports. He praised the ability of Jordanian industrialists to withstand challenges, adapt and remain competitive despite various obstacles.
He called for a shift from an industrial model focused solely on production to one centered on creating value and knowledge through investment in skills, technology, knowledge localization and the enhancement of the global competitiveness of Jordanian products.
Prince El Hassan also emphasized the importance of linking industrial development with the security of essential resources, particularly water, energy and food, describing them as interconnected pillars of national security and stability. He called for investment in innovation, technology and the green economy as an economic and developmental necessity that would strengthen Jordan’s competitiveness in global markets.
During an interactive discussion with investors, Prince El Hassan highlighted the importance of institutionalizing economic and development efforts and building sustainable frameworks for dialogue and coordination among the public and private sectors, knowledge institutions and local communities. He said such frameworks would help ensure the continuity of initiatives and transform them into measurable and scalable programs, rather than relying on individual or seasonal efforts.
For his part, EAIIA Chairman Iyad Abu Haltam outlined key performance indicators for Jordan’s industrial sector, noting that national industrial exports have approached JD10 billion and that Jordanian products are exported to more than 150 countries worldwide. He added that the sector provides more than 268,000 jobs and contributes more than a quarter of the national economy.
Abu Haltam said Jordanian industry has successfully navigated challenges related to supply chains and rising financing and operating costs while maintaining its presence in global markets through increasing the value added of its products, enhancing technological content and adhering to the highest international standards and specifications.
He also proposed an initiative to strengthen networking and cooperation between Jordan’s private sector and its counterparts in several Arab countries, including Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, with the aim of establishing partnerships and joint ventures that support economic integration and expand opportunities for investment and production.
//Petra// AF
