National exports defy regional pressures and supply chain obstacles, growing by 6%

At the forefront of the scene, the industrial sector proves once again that it is the true engine of economic growth, supported by an expanding production base, increased export efficiency, and the crossing into new, non-traditional markets that were not on the Jordanian product map in previous years.

This advanced performance strengthens the robustness of the balance of payments and the Kingdom's foreign currency reserves, and clearly translates the priorities of the Economic Modernization Vision in transforming exports into a key lever for generating job opportunities and stimulating investment.

The rise in national exports during the same period was concentrated in the sectors of clothing and its accessories (knitted) by 4.6 percent, nitrogenous or chemical fertilizers by 16.4 percent, pharmaceutical preparations by 1.8 percent, and raw potash by 12.3 percent.

The Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, Engineer Fathi Al-Jaghbir, confirmed that the rise in national exports during the same period of the current year reflects the ability of the national economy, especially the industrial sector, to adapt and maintain a presence in foreign markets despite the challenges imposed by regional tensions on trade movement and supply chains.

He told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that these results confirm that Jordanian products have been able to maintain their competitiveness and continued demand, reflecting the strength of the national production base and its ability to deal with exceptional circumstances.

He added that this positive performance was achieved in light of actual challenges faced by industrial establishments and exporters, represented by rising shipping and insurance costs, disruption of some transport routes, delays in the arrival of raw materials and production inputs, and the resulting additional pressures on operational costs and competitiveness.

He continued that the growth was not limited to a specific industrial activity, but extended to include the majority of industrial sectors, which carries an important indication of the breadth of the export growth base and the diversity of industrial products capable of competing in foreign markets.

He explained that the growth of national exports does not mean the absence of the effects of regional tensions, but rather reflects the ability of the Jordanian industrial sector to deal with these pressures and maintain the continuity of production and export and fulfill its obligations towards foreign markets.

He emphasized that Jordanian industry possesses production and export components that enable it to continue growing and strengthening its presence in traditional markets and expanding into other markets despite the challenges, a trend that is of great importance in light of the transformations witnessed by international trade.

In this regard, Al-Jaghbir stressed the importance of continuing to work on diversifying exports geographically and by commodity, which reduces the risks of relying on specific markets or products and provides wider opportunities for industrial establishments to grow and expand.

He emphasized the importance of building on sectors that achieve growth, in parallel with expanding the base of high value-added products and enhancing the capabilities of manufacturing industries to reach new markets.

He believed that the priority during the coming phase is to transform the growth of national exports into a sustainable export path, by enhancing the competitiveness of national industry, reducing production and transport costs, facilitating access to foreign markets, and benefiting from trade agreements and economic partnerships that link the Kingdom to various countries of the world, in addition to supporting industrial establishments in developing their products and increasing their added value.

He explained that the economic importance of this growth is not limited to the rise in the value of exports or the improvement of foreign trade indicators, but extends to what the expansion in exports represents in terms of opportunities to increase production and investment, generate job opportunities, and enhance the contribution of industry to economic growth.

Al-Jaghbir confirmed that the continuation of this performance despite regional conditions strengthens confidence in the capabilities of Jordanian industry and the status of the national product in global markets, and confirms the importance of building on these gains to consolidate the role of industrial exports as one of the main drivers of sustainable economic growth.

During the first eight months of the current year, national exports to many countries increased, most notably: Syria by 28.9 percent, the People's Republic of China by 74.3 percent, and to the European Union by 11.4 percent.

In turn, the Chairman of the Jordan Exporters Association, Senator Ahmad Al-Khudari, confirmed that the rise in national exports reflects the strength and robustness of the Jordanian industrial sector, and its ability to continue growing and expanding in foreign markets, despite the challenges and political conditions witnessed by the region.

He indicated that this rise carries positive indicators regarding the performance of the national industrial sector, and confirms its ability to deal with regional variables and maintain its presence in export markets, in addition to expanding into new markets that Jordanian products did not reach previously.

He said that the continued growth of national exports in light of the surrounding circumstances reflects the importance of the state of security and stability enjoyed by Jordan, thanks to the wise leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and the efforts made by the security services in maintaining the Kingdom's security and stability, which provided an appropriate environment for the continuation of economic activity, industrial production, and export movement.

He added that reading the national export figures is not limited to the growth rate recorded, but extends to the ability of Jordanian industry to open new markets and diversify its export destinations, which enhances the chances of continued growth during the coming period and reduces reliance on traditional markets.

He emphasized that the continued growth of national exports constitutes a fundamental pillar for supporting the national economy and stimulating the industrial production wheel, by increasing demand for Jordanian products and expanding the production capacity of factories, which contributes to providing more job opportunities for Jordanians and reducing unemployment rates, in addition to enhancing the contribution of the industrial sector to economic growth.

The increase in exports also contributes to enhancing foreign currency inflows to the Kingdom and supporting the balance of payments, which reflects positively on the strength of the national economy and supports efforts to maintain monetary stability and the Kingdom's foreign currency reserves.

He stressed that the continued growth of national exports is consistent with the targets of the Economic Modernization Vision, which places enhancing the competitiveness of productive sectors, increasing exports, and expanding the presence of Jordanian products in global markets among its priorities, as they are key drivers for achieving sustainable economic growth, generating job opportunities, and improving living standards.

He indicated that achieving the vision's targets requires continuing to work on developing the industrial sector, enhancing its production and export capabilities, and opening more foreign markets for national products, which contributes to increasing the contribution of exports to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), attracting new investments, and expanding the production base of the national economy.

He confirmed that the industrial sector is considered one of the main sectors capable of contributing to achieving the targets of the Economic Modernization Vision, especially in the areas of increasing production and exports and providing job opportunities, pointing out that the continued positive performance of exports enhances the opportunities to build on the achievements made and move forward in implementing the vision's priorities.

He indicated that Jordanian products succeeded during the past period in entering new markets, most notably Singapore and Korea, confirming that the Kingdom has been able to build a stable export presence in these markets, which reflects the growing confidence in the national product and its ability to compete.

He confirmed that the Jordanian industrial sector has witnessed remarkable development over the past years in terms of modernizing production lines, adopting modern technologies, and upgrading quality levels and specifications, which has contributed to enhancing the competitiveness of national products and increasing their ability to enter global markets.

He indicated that opening new export markets constitutes one of the most important factors supporting the growth of national exports, especially since diversifying markets gives Jordanian industrial companies wider opportunities to market their products, and helps them expand their customer base and enhance their ability to continue exporting.

He pointed out that the association is currently working on arranging new steps aimed at expanding the presence of national products in a number of promising foreign markets, led by the Chinese market, in addition to the markets of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia.

He noted that the African continent also enjoys increasing attention within the association's plans for external expansion, pointing to the existence of arrangements to organize an exhibition in Kenya, with the aim of enhancing the presence of Jordanian products and opening new marketing channels for national companies in African markets.

Al-Khudari confirmed that participating in international exhibitions constitutes an important tool for promoting national industry and introducing the quality of Jordanian products, in addition to its role in building new trade relations and opening direct channels between Jordanian exporters and importers in foreign markets.