Online portal to boost exports to EU on the anvil — Trade Ministry

AMMAN — The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply has started implementing a plan prepared in cooperation with the EU, the Jordan Investment Commission and the Jordan Chamber of Industry to create an online portal with the aim of increasing Jordan’s exports to European markets. 

The plan comes in light of the new simplifications of the rules of origin agreement signed between Jordan and the EU, and the latest amendment to increase the duration from 2016-2026 to 2016-2030, Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Yousef Al Shamali told The Jordan Times on Sunday. 

Besides the portal, the plan also includes raising awareness in the industrial sector about the rules of origin agreement, in addition to conducting an in-depth study on the European market and products, and the local factories, according to Shamali.

He added that the plans aim at activating the role of Jordanian diplomatic attaches to promote the agreement and prepare brochures that showcase the advantages of the Jordanian industrial sector. 

This also entails utilising social media in cooperation with the private sector to promote the simplifying of rules of origins decision and publish the amended monitoring and control regulations, in addition to the form that enables applicants to obtain an authorisation number at the EU online. 

The decision to simplify the rules of origin currently includes all established factories in the Kingdom. Jordanian factories will undergo training workshops on exporting to the EU, related to quality boost, product specifications and training Jordanian and Syrian factory workers, according to Shamali. 

“There will be regular follow-ups on indicators related to boosting points of strength and resolving weaknesses if there are any,” Shamali said, affirming the government’s interest in achieving the best benefit from the new facilitations related to simplifying the rules of origin agreement. 

The agreement was first signed on July 19, 2016 and became effective at once, giving many Jordanian products the chance to benefit from customs exemptions and thus increasing exports to European markets, the ministry said at the time. 

At the time the decision entailed making 200,000 job opportunities available for Syrian refugees in the industrial sector but at the end of 2018 when amendments were made to extend the period of the agreement to 2030, the number was decreased to 60,000 jobs in different economic sectors. 

The request to loosen EU trade restrictions was made during the February donor conference in London, when international players pledged to help Jordan overcome the burdens ensuing from the refugee influx.