Dr. Hamza Alakaleek

Jordan’s economic landscape is shifting, and one of the most promising drivers behind that shift is the work of the Jordan Chamber of Industry. While government institutions focus on investment promotion, legislation, and national policy, the Chamber has developed something equally critical: practical data, strategy, and real-world understanding of what industry needs to grow. The result is a model that could reshape national competitiveness if scaled across public policy.

At the center of this transformation is a major achievement: the Chamber has built one of the most comprehensive industrial databases in Jordan. This system includes classifications of industrial zones, data on the factories operating within them, their capabilities, digital readiness levels, workforce gaps, and the competitive advantages of each region. This type of detailed mapping has shifted planning away from guesswork toward evidence-based decision making.

The Chamber has also developed deep insight into Jordan’s export landscape. Through studying market trends, trade barriers, shipping challenges, and purchasing behavior, it has helped industries identify priority markets and expand strategically. The results speak for themselves. In 2024, the Amman Chamber of Industry recorded exports of approximately 7.164 billion Jordanian dinars. Growth was especially strong in key regions: exports to the United States increased by 42.7 percent and exports to the European Union rose significantly, demonstrating that targeted market intelligence can guide meaningful expansion.

One of the most visible elements of this strategy is the Made in Jordan initiative. What started as a marketing slogan has evolved into a national industrial brand. The initiative aims to build trust with consumers, raise awareness of local products, and open doors to international markets. The use of Jordan’s global barcode prefix, 625, is now part of a wider effort to share success stories from industries such as pharmaceuticals, food technology, chemicals, plastics, wood products, and other manufacturing sectors.

Beyond promotion, the Chamber works directly with factories to improve their export readiness. It offers advisory services, helps solve regulatory and logistical challenges, connects manufacturers with international buyers, and provides training programs to improve skills and competitiveness. Events, workshops, and international trade missions have helped shift industry culture toward learning, innovation, and global participation.

Workforce development is another core element. The Chamber’s Employment Support Unit connects job seekers with factories while offering vocational training to reduce the skills gap. This approach helps both sides: industries gain access to qualified workers, and individuals gain opportunities for long-term employment.

Supporting all of this is the Chamber’s digital industrial library. The platform includes policy papers, legal updates, export figures, market analysis, international trade agreements, and sector-specific reports. This library enables policymakers, investors, and manufacturers to make informed decisions rather than rely on assumptions.

The Chamber’s progress shows that sustainable economic transformation requires more than new policies or organizational restructuring. It requires building institutional knowledge, retaining experienced talent, and maintaining continuity in execution. For the government, the next logical step is to integrate this model into national policy.

A national council connecting the Jordan Chamber of Industry with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply and the Ministry of Investment could help align priorities, share data, and monitor progress. By coordinating industrial policy, export planning, workforce development, and investment promotion, Jordan could create a unified and predictable economic environment.

Looking forward, integrating industrial modernization with national digital transformation efforts and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies will be essential. These tools are not optional—they are necessary for competitiveness.

If Jordan continues building on this collaborative model, investors will see more than a market. They will see an economy based on stability, knowledge, and long-term strategy. And that is the kind of opportunity worth building together. Jordan now stands at a crossroads: it can continue incremental improvement, or it can transform momentum into a national agenda supported by stable policy, data-driven planning, and long-term commitment. The Chamber has shown the direction. The next step is ensuring the entire state walks with it. With continued alignment and transparency, the industrial sector can become a pillar of national economic strength.

And that is a goal worth pursuing—now, not later.