Amman, Feb. 12 (Petra) -- The Jordan Chamber of Industry, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, on Thursday launched six new professional standards and specialized training curricula under a project aimed at developing the textile and leather industries sector.

The initiative is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, with funding from the Government of the Netherlands.

Member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and representative of the textile and leather sector Ihab Qadri said the project represents a key pillar in positioning Jordan as a regional industrial hub driven by high-growth, value-added exports. He added that it also contributes to stimulating domestic and foreign investment flows into the sector.

Qadri said the newly introduced curricula cover several technical and supervisory occupations, including multi-skilled tailor, textile and leather quality control inspector, production supervisor, cadre technician, fabric or leather cutter, and production planning and control technician. He described the initiative as a strategic investment in national human capital that addresses skills mismatches by aligning vocational training outputs with labor market demands, thereby enhancing the sector’s attractiveness to youth and supporting employment and growth targets.

Director of Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Rami Hammad said the adoption of six new professional standards in the garment and textile sector reflects the national commitment to implementing the Economic Modernization Vision and the Industrial Policy Document, which identify industry as a primary engine of economic growth, export expansion, job creation, including for women, and increased domestic value-added.

He noted that the move aligns with the Ministry’s priorities to strengthen industrial competitiveness in both local and international markets through cost optimization, quality enhancement, value chain development, and targeted human capital development.

Hammad added that the standards will enhance workforce productivity, elevate product quality, and support the sector’s expansion into new markets, reinforcing Jordan’s position as a regional center for garment and textile manufacturing.

Assistant Head of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission Yousef Abdallat said the number of specialized sector skills councils has grown as a result of coordinated efforts across industrial, commercial, service, and agricultural sectors. He noted that the Leather and Garment Sector Skills Council is among the most active, with professional standards developed in line with the National Qualifications Framework and focused on future-oriented skills and actual labor market requirements.

He said the standards establish structured training pathways and modern curricula that promote sustainable employment and enable youth to integrate into productive sectors.

For his part, the IFC Projects Director Serhiy Osavolyuk‏ said the project supports the textile and garment sector due to its significant role in job creation, fiscal revenues, and foreign currency inflows into the national economy.

He added that the IFC has introduced an integrated technical package comprising six specialized curricula, accompanied by detailed guidance manuals outlining required competencies and training methodologies. These resources, he said, will enable education and training institutions to graduate qualified professionals capable of meeting industry needs and strengthening the sector’s competitiveness in global markets.

//Petra// AJ