JEDCO allocates JD430,000 to support National Linkages programme

AMMAN — The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) on Monday launched a programme to support industrial SMEs to strengthen the national linkages between local factories and the industrial sector and other economic sectors such as agricultural and commercial sectors.

The programme will contribute to enhancing confidence in the product, increasing self-reliance, as technical and financial support will be provided to the targeted SMEs, with a total cost of JD430,000, according to a JEDCO statement.

JEDCO’s CEO Bashar Al Zu’bi, in the statement, stressed the government’s awareness about the importance of the industrial sector as its contribution amounts to a quarter of the national economy.

The sector employs around 250,000 Jordanian workers and constitutes more than 90 per cent of total Jordanian exports.

Zu’bi added that the National Linkages programme seeks to strengthen the linkages between local factories, increase the purchase of raw materials and production inputs. The programme seeks to increase confidence and support and develop Jordanian products, according to the government’s priorities.

He pointed out that the National Linkages programme will start receiving applications as of Monday. 

The programme aims at linking five local industrial SMEs with at least five SMEs operating in all sectors  — industrial, commercial, service, agricultural, among others.

The programme provides financial and technical grants in two phases. During the first phase, a total of JD30,000 will be granted to finance specialised technical consultations for 15 industrial SMEs in the form of financial grants with a ceiling of JD2,000 for each company. 

During the second phase, a total of JD400,000 will be provided to finance and support the costs of the development plans of five industrial supplied SMEs to fulfill all the requirements of the importing companies, where grants will be provided with a ceiling of JD80,000 for each company, which covers 50 per cent of the total cost of the project.