King meets textile industry representatives, stresses sector’s importance to national economy

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the importance of the textile industry and its key contribution to the national economy and job creation.

During a meeting with representatives of the textile industry at Al Husseiniya Palace, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, King Abdullah noted the need to promote vocational education and capacity building for those in the industrial sector to expand youth employment, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty urged collaboration to achieve the objectives of the Economic Modernisation Vision in developing the industrial sector to provide more jobs and reach new export markets.

The King also pointed to the need for improving cooperation between large and small enterprises within the sector and introducing a number of measures to streamline the business environment.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said the textile industry, which comprises nearly 1,200 establishments, is one of the most significant exporting sectors in Jordan, making up around 21 per cent of gross national exports in 2021.

He said the textile sector ranks first in labour and employment, employing about 76,000 workers in 2021, 32 per cent of whom are Jordanians.

The sector complies with ethical sourcing requirements, in accordance with international standards in terms of production quality, processes, and working conditions, as well as the calibre of the workforce, according to Khasawneh.

The prime minister stressed that the sector provides local commodities that were otherwise imported from abroad, highlighting that the laws and regulations on investment will help stimulate growth in the sector.

For their part, the attendees presented a number of proposals and suggestions for enhancing the sector’s support for national industries and increasing their revenues by increasing textile industry exports.

The attendees also expressed appreciation of His Majesty’s keenness to check on the industry and other economic sectors, stressing that supporting the textile sector and facilitating its investment procedures will contribute to enhancing the national economy.

The meeting is part of a series of regular meetings that the King holds with private sector representatives.