Clothing manufacturer, institutions sign agreement to merge business, social impact

AMMAN — Classic Fashion Apparel Industry, a manufacturing company located in Ramtha, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on  0ctober 29 with a group of institutions from the private and public sectors, with the aim of supporting business expansion, skills development and job creation for Jordanians and Syrians.

The MoU was signed between Classic Fashion Chairman and Managing Director Sanal Kumar, Standard Chartered Bank CEO Muhannad Mukahhal, Chairman of the Private Infrastructure Development Group Andrew Bainbridge and representatives of GuarantCo and the Technical Assistance Facility.

The MoU focuses on creating job opportunities for Jordanians and Syrians, and is a continuation of several initiatives that aim at empowering women. 

Classic Fashion Apparel Industry, according to Management Services Director Sridhar Rajagopal, is “different from other apparel manufacturers”, as it aims to integrate social impact and business.

 “Needless to say, the industry cannot grow and develop without the help of the local government,” Rajagopal stated, noting the company’s goal to “maintain our position as a responsible business and preferred employer”.

Since 2015, Classic Fashion has followed the Sustainable Development Goals framework and conducted social impact projects geared towards gender equality, decent work, economic growth and holistic development, the director noted. 

In running its projects, the manufacturing company cooperates with the Ministry of Labour, Khidmet Watan, the Vocational Training Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture, the UNHCR and UNICEF, among others. 

An example of one such project is the Centre for Excellence in Garment Manufacturing, which was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and opened in November 2017. Today, it consists of three training centres with more than 1,800 graduates, Rajagopal added. 

At the signing ceremony, Jordan Investment Commission Chairman Khaled Wazani thanked Sanal Kumar, saying that he “respects” Kumar’s vision, which began with a single factory with 300 people in 2003.

“Sanal has presented Jordan in the best way by putting the country on the map for creating new partnerships and investments,” Wazani noted.