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AMMAN — Zarqa Chamber of Industry (ZCI) on Wednesday held a meeting with the Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) to discuss Jordan’s burdens resulting from hosting large number of Syrian refugees, a statement from the chamber said.
During the meeting, ZCI Chairman Fares Hammoudeh noted that Jordan has suffered from great geopolitical turmoil that affected the overall macro-economy in the last decade as a result of the influx of 1.3 million Syrian refugees and the closure of the northern and eastern borders.
“While many have succeeded in turning challenges into opportunities, others are still searching for the right formula,” he said, emphasising the role of the chamber in facilitating and helping fill in the gaps to establish an effective partnership between private, public stakeholders and NGOs.
ZCI represents 52 per cent of total industries in Jordan when it comes to total capital size, Hammoudeh noted, adding that for three years, the chamber implemented a diversification plan that enabled it to increase its exports by 5 per cent in 2017, according to the statement.
“Our stakeholders in Zarqa and Mafraq enjoy a unique comparative advantage that comes as a result of some facts such as the closeness to the border with Syria, in addition to the availability of skilled Jordanian and Syrian labour.”
“It is time for the international community to pay back to the Jordanian economy by helping to create new jobs and prosperity for its businesses particularly with recovery and reconstruction projects,” the chairman said, citing ZCI’s invitation of 30 top industrialists that cover SRTF comprehensive scope including pre-fab buildings, ambulances, electricity generation, mechanisation, school furniture and others, the statement read.
SRTF Executive Manager Lakis Papastavrou noted that the multi-donor fund was initiated by the Group of Friends of the Syrian People and its Working Group on Economic Recovery and Development, adding that it aims to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people and assist the SOC in providing essential services to Syrians.
He added that the SRTF decided to expand its operation to the southern regions of Syria through their office in Amman, noting that it will provide Jordanian companies with opportunities to benefit from reconstruction projects in Syria, the statement concluded.