Amman, June 30 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply on Tuesday launched a national Training of Trainers (TOT) program in digital trade. The initiative is run in cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the "Promoting E-Commerce and Digital Trade in the MENA Region" project, which is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The program aims to establish a national network of qualified trainers and consultants specialized in digital trade to provide technical and advisory support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on the services sector. The initiative is designed to develop digital operations for these businesses and enhance their access to regional and global markets.

The specialized curriculum covers digital marketing, content creation, e-pricing strategies, electronic payment systems, logistics, and inventory management, as well as methodologies for providing e-commerce consultancy to SMEs. Participants who complete the requirements will receive an international certification from the ITC before proceeding to a practical phase that involves mentoring service-sector SMEs to accelerate their digital transformation.

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Dana Al-Zoubi, stated that the program aligns with government directives to accelerate the digital transformation of the national economy, boost the competitiveness of Jordanian companies, and increase service exports.

She added that the project supports the objectives of the second phase of the National E-Commerce Strategy (2026–2029) and the National Export Strategy, both of which focus on building digital capacities and expanding international market presence.

Al-Zoubi emphasized that the program's success relies on public-private partnerships, praising the role of chambers of commerce and industry, as well as business development associations, in identifying enterprise needs and delivering sustainable development services.

In a related development, the ministry concluded the first phase of the TechForward program, implemented in cooperation with the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) and GIZ’s "Innovative Private Sector Development Approaches for Employment Promotion (I-PSD)" project. The closing ceremony was attended by representatives from the public and private sectors, higher education institutions, and participating companies.

The ministry affirmed that TechForward is a national initiative aimed at strengthening the innovation ecosystem and public-private-academic partnerships by aligning scientific research with market needs to support company growth, in line with the National E-Commerce Strategy, industrial policy, and the Economic Modernization Vision.

The first phase of TechForward engaged 17 Jordanian universities to bridge the gap between higher education and the private sector.

The program successfully connected more than 60 graduation projects with 35 Jordanian companies across various economic sectors, allowing students to tackle real-world business challenges and convert their graduation projects into practical, innovative solutions. The ministry confirmed its continued support for the second phase of the program to build on these results and further reinforce Jordan's position as a regional hub for innovation.

//Petra// AF