Jordan’s leather and textile industries are following an upward trajectory, with sustained efforts to strengthen production, exports and investment while creating more employment opportunities. The developments align with the targets of the Economic Modernization Vision and are receiving close attention from King Abdullah II, including through the King’s field visits to garment and textile manufacturing facilities.
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According to Engineer Iyhab Qadri, sector representative at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, work is currently underway to accelerate the integrated industrial cluster project by selecting the most suitable industrial zone to host the project and completing its detailed studies in preparation for implementation.
Qadri told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that plans are also being developed to promote investment opportunities in fabrics, yarns, accessories and production inputs, while monitoring implementation in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation and relevant authorities.
He said efforts are also focused on increasing added value and industrial integration by encouraging local production of manufacturing inputs, strengthening links between factories and small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting the modernization of production lines, and adopting technology to increase productivity and improve product quality.
Qadri noted that practical steps are being taken to align training with factory requirements, update training programs in cooperation with manufacturers and sector skills councils, expand practical training and link it to actual employment opportunities, while monitoring training and employment outcomes.
He explained that indicators covering exports, production, added value, investment and employment are being monitored, with periodic reports issued to track progress. Work is also underway to develop the productive branches program in coordination with relevant authorities, attract new industrial projects, train local workers according to factory needs, and assess the impact of expansion on employment opportunities for Jordanians.
He highlighted major efforts to capitalize on export opportunities and diversify markets by identifying promising products and markets based on the capabilities of Jordanian factories, diversifying export destinations, strengthening communication with international importers, promoting Jordanian products, and addressing export challenges.
Qadri said plans are in place to help factories meet quality, technical and environmental requirements in target markets, keep pace with international requirements related to ecodesign for sustainable products, traceability and digital product passports, and create the necessary environment for investment in textile waste recycling. This includes identifying technical and technological needs, developing viable investment opportunities, and strengthening links between factory requirements and potential investors.
Qadri added that the leather and textile industries are among Jordan’s oldest industrial sectors, dating back to 1920. The sector is an important pillar of the national economy due to its role in production, employment and exports. It also holds a strategic position under the Economic Modernization Vision as one of the priority sectors, given its potential for growth, higher added value and job creation.
The sector has recorded significant growth in recent years, with its production increasing from around JD140 million in 2000 to more than JD2 billion, while its added value reached approximately JD850 million.
The sector has contributed to creating extensive employment opportunities, particularly for Jordanians, while also attracting investment and strengthening the presence of Jordanian industry in global markets. It accounts for around 2 percent of GDP.
The number of Jordanian workers in the sector has increased by more than 130 percent over the past decade, reaching more than 31,000 Jordanian men and women, who account for 30 percent of the sector’s total workforce.
Qadri said sector exports increased by 3.2 percent during the first seven months of the current year to around $1.5 billion, compared with $2.4 billion in 2025. He noted that the US market accounts for 77.3 percent of total sector exports, underscoring the importance of this market while highlighting the need to expand into new markets to reduce the risks associated with export concentration.
He said the sector’s products reach 80 markets worldwide, reflecting its ability to compete and respond to international market requirements. Exports have also recorded growth in several markets, particularly Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany and Mexico.
International Trade Centre data indicate that the sector has untapped export opportunities worth approximately $918 million across a range of products. Qadri said the sector employs around 99,000 workers, accounting for 38 percent of total employment in Jordan’s industrial sector, making it one of the country’s most labor-intensive economic activities.
He noted that the number of Jordanian workers in the sector has increased by 130 percent over the past decade, while more than 1,000 direct jobs for Jordanians were created last year.
Qadri said the sector’s production has more than doubled, exceeding $3 billion last year, including $600 million in domestic sales, with the remainder generated through exports. Added value accounts for 42 percent of total production, making the sector one of the largest generators of added value among Jordanian industries.
He said there are 818 establishments operating in the leather and textile industries, with registered capital of approximately JD138 million, in addition to 30 productive branches across the Kingdom employing 10,000 Jordanian workers.
Work is currently underway to open three new productive branches during the current year. A fabric manufacturing company has also been opened in Mafraq, which is expected to increase the sector’s added value. In addition, factories and warehouses for fabrics and garments are being expanded and developed in Aqaba, providing an important boost to exports and reducing lead times.
Qadri explained that the Economic Modernization Vision has placed significant importance on the leather and textile industries as a priority sector and a key component of high-value industries. Its targets include creating 149,000 jobs for Jordanians in the coming years and increasing the sector’s added value by 10 percent annually.
The targets also include increasing sector exports by around $5.5 billion and attracting $3.1 billion in investment in the coming years, averaging approximately $258 million annually. They also call for strengthening horizontal and vertical value chains, establishing complementary industries, providing trained workers, encouraging the employment of local talent, attracting investment, and increasing linkages between small and large companies.
Qadri highlighted several achievements in the sector, including cooperation with the International Finance Corporation to promote Jordan’s leather and textile industries and available investment opportunities in several markets and regions worldwide. The aim is to attract new investment, strengthen international partnerships, and prepare a specialized promotional guide highlighting Jordan’s competitive advantages and available investment opportunities.
He noted that cooperation with the International Finance Corporation is also underway to prepare a study for the integrated industrial cluster project for the leather and textile industries. The project aims to strengthen vertical and horizontal integration, develop value chains, and attract investment in supporting and complementary industries.
Detailed studies are also being prepared for a number of proposed industrial cities and zones to host the cluster, with the aim of assessing available options and identifying suitable locations for the project. Significant progress has also been made in completing the main components of the project’s implementation plan, including requirements for developing the cluster, strengthening industrial integration and attracting the necessary investment.
Qadri also pointed to the adoption of the National Strategy for the Leather and Textile Industries as a roadmap for developing the sector, enhancing its competitiveness and achieving its targets under the Economic Modernization Vision. Most components of the strategy’s implementation plan have been completed, covering industrial development, investment attraction, exports and added value, skills and employment, sustainability and industrial integration.
He said cooperation with the Jordanian Armed Forces has also been strengthened through field visits to a number of sector factories to assess their production capabilities and determine their readiness to meet the Armed Forces’ needs, while exploring opportunities to supply locally manufactured products and increase reliance on domestic industry.
Technical cooperation with military laboratories has also been strengthened to monitor quality and benefit from their testing and inspection capabilities, helping improve the quality of national products and their readiness for supply.
Qadri said a draft cooperation agreement is being prepared to train and qualify individuals expected to retire from the Jordanian Armed Forces at factories operating in the sector. The initiative aims to provide them with professional qualifications and employment opportunities after retirement based on factory needs and operational capabilities. Coordination between the two sides is being completed on the final version of the agreement ahead of its approval and signing.
He confirmed that a professional training and skills system is in place, including the development and accreditation of eight specialized training curricula for the leather and textile industries. The curricula are aligned with factory requirements and labor market needs and are being activated through relevant training institutions to qualify national workers and meet the sector’s demand for skilled labor.
A study is also being prepared on the skills gap and occupations required by the sector to identify the actual need for qualified workers and guide training programs according to industrial priorities. A strategic plan for developing vocational and technical education is also being developed, with implementation targets aimed at improving the readiness of the national workforce and narrowing the gap between labor supply and demand.
The sector skills council is also being given a stronger role in coordinating between factories and vocational training and education institutions, while linking practical training to factory requirements and actual employment opportunities.
According to Qadri, other achievements include initiatives to improve resource efficiency and cleaner production in sector factories, in cooperation with national institutions and international partners. These efforts include improving energy and water efficiency, reducing waste, increasing production efficiency, and preparing and launching a guide for the voluntary sorting and collection of industrial textile waste.
The guide aims to organize the sorting and collection of textile waste, increase opportunities for its reuse and recycling, and apply circular economy principles across the sector.
He also noted efforts to improve factories’ readiness to meet sustainability requirements and international market standards, including European requirements related to ecodesign for sustainable products, traceability and transparency in supply chains, and digital product passports. These measures are intended to support factories’ compliance with evolving requirements in target markets and preserve their competitiveness.
Efforts are also underway to monitor technical and environmental standards and strengthen quality infrastructure and inspection and testing services, helping factories meet the requirements of target markets and maintain their competitive position.
Qadri explained that the leather and textile industries sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, in coordination with a committee chaired by the Ministry of Investment and relevant authorities, is working to develop a national roadmap aimed at identifying Jordan’s needs in textile waste recycling and creating investment opportunities to attract investors to establish specialized projects in this field.
This includes efforts to provide accurate data on the quantities and sources of textile waste, standardize data collection and analysis methods, and identify the technical and technological requirements needed for recycling. These efforts will support the development of clear investment opportunities and strengthen the circular economy in the sector.
Source: Petra
