Ammon News -
Under the Patronage of HE Minister of Trade

Irbid - As part of its strategy to ensure that Jordanians throughout the country enjoy economic opportunities and under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Trade, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)and the Irbid Chamber of Commerce opened a workforce training center. USAID Jordan Deputy Mission Director, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Irbid Chamber of Commerce officials were present as the ceremony convened at the Chamber's premises in Irbid.

The Center's purpose will be to assist new graduates in gaining the skills necessary to acquire gainful employment. A portion of USAID's support focuses on the creation of a state-of-the-art computer laboratory to enhance training opportunities.

The Center's computer and language laboratories are completed, as are its training rooms that accommodate different sizes of styles of capacity building programs. The Center also contains offices to assist business owners and entrepreneurs in accessing information and support such as translation, legal consultation, business correspondence,, and bilateral meetings between Chamber of Commerce members and international business leaders. Because of the services it offers, the Center has become a one-stop-shop for business owners, entrepreneurs, and students who wish to access information, develop their skills, or pursue business opportunities..

The Center offers a variety of training programs that focus on developing employment skills. One such program is a Cartoon and Design course that is being conducted in conjunction with the Arena Animation Academy. Arena is expected to hire from 20-30 of the program's graduates. Additional training programs are offered in business English, soft skills, and computer applications.

Ms Samar Al Tal, the Training Center's Manager, described the cooperation between the Irbid Chamber of Commerce and USAID Jordan as "very effective.". She noted that the partnership was forged subsequent to a study that was conducted in the Irbid Governorate that highlighted the need for such a Center in order to address rampant unemployment in the north.

She added that the Center conducts a number of training courses in computing and accounting, many in cooperation with organizations such as the Jordan Accountants Association and Jordan Translators Association.. According to Ms. Al Tal, the Center has also gained accreditation to offer International Computer Driving License (ICDL) courses.

The Irbid Chamber of Commerce is one of the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program's key partners in the north of Jordan. Program consultants have worked extensively with the Chamber in the development of its work plan and its organizational chart, as well as in augmenting its work to strengthen Irbid's civil society organizations.

Jordan Economic Development Program is an economic development initiative implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP, along with a number of Jordanian partner firms. The Program's mission is to support sectors and activities in alignment with His Majesty King Abdullah's vision for a knowledge-based economy, by inserting Jordanian enterprises into global value chains, promoting investment, and improving the enabling environment to generate value added jobs, exports, foreign direct investment, and sector revenues as a powerful engine of economic growth.