Amman –As part of the LevelUP – Advancing Jordanian Industries project, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supplies (MITS) and with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), has conducted a National Stakeholder Consultative Workshop on 30th & 31st August in regard to Value Chain Upgrading Strategies for three value chains in Jordan, namely: Garment and Fashion, Food Supplements, and Natural Cosmetics.

The workshop was conducted following the completion of comprehensive analysis conducted earlier by UNIDO in cooperation with the MITS to identify the major constraints, growth bottlenecks, and untapped development opportunities, focusing on enhancing the economic inclusion of women and youth for the selected value chains. Based on the findings of the analysis, draft upgrading strategies and related action plans have been formulated.

The consultative workshop served as a platform to facilitate collaboration and foster a stakeholder-based approach to draft action plans necessary to upgrade the selected value chains, bringing together decision-level representatives of key national stakeholders. The workshop assisted to reach a consensus on the interventions required to develop the target value chains for increased women and youth inclusiveness, including priority policy and institutional recommendations, specific interventions at the enterprise level and the necessary advocacy efforts for implementation in Jordan.

The director of Economic Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, Mr. Ahmed Hammad, praised the efforts of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in implementing the project and the support provided by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. Mr. Hammad added that this workshop promotes stakeholder-based approach to formulate action plans needed to advance the selected value chains.

The representative of the UNIDO in Jordan, Mrs. Sulafa Madanat, said in her opening remarks “A comprehensive analysis of three value chains was conducted in Jordan to identify the main constraints, growth bottlenecks, and untapped development opportunities, with a particular focus on promoting the economic inclusion of women and youth,” Mrs. Madanat further mentioned that the workshop is one of the outputs of the project, which aims at creating decent job opportunities for women and youth – including through self-employment, – and supporting the inclusive and sustainable industrial development of the country in line with the Jordan 2025 Economic Development Plan. 

This workshop will pave the way for a forthcoming international event involving international technical and development partners along with the national stakeholders, where high-level discussions will be held about increasing the capacities of relevant national actors to advance Jordanian industry.