Ammon News -

The government is well aware of the importance of the industrial sector and its contribution to up to a quarter of the national economy that puts some 250,000 Jordanians on the payroll; constitutes 90 percent of exports, Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh said. 

In a meeting with the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) Board of Directors, Khasawneh said that the government is keen on eliminating the obstacles facing the sector.

"We are looking forward in the next phase to having an economic approach more capable of creating and developing opportunities that are more consistent with the criteria of self-reliance in light of a competitive national economy founded on a true institutional partnership with the private sector...," he said.

He highlighted the sector's ability to keep up with the increase in demand that has been imposed by the coronavirus crisis on foodstuffs and highly important products such as masks, sanitizers, and drugs, adding that the sector managed to have its products exported to some 70 markets in the world.

Jordan produces up to 5.5 million masks daily, as it has exported more than 94 million.

Khasawnes said that the tax revenues from the industrial sector amounted to around JOD 1.3 billion in 2019, pointing out that the foodstuffs and pharmaceutical sectors comprise the top sources of tax revenue. 

He said that foodstuffs, fertilizers chemicals, textile and pharmaceutical sectors are among the top exporters.

The government is adamant on flattening the curve of COVID-19 infections, as it considers stabilizing the epidemiological situation the utmost priority, voicing his pride in the Jordanians for abiding by health and safety measures and wearing masks, which have been very crucial in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

Under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the government is committed to opening the channels of dialogue and bolstering partnership with the private sector as part of the national participatory principle that the government believes in to advance the interests of the Kingdom, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the government will offer stimulus packages (financial relief packages) to support investment, which would job opportunities and help keep the existing ones and maximize production projects. It will also review the in place measures to spur and lure in investments and help the ones leering from the COVD-19 blows to survive.