Jordan extends exemption from customs duties, sea freight charges tax

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The Jordanian cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh, recently extended its January 21 decision that exempted customs duties and general and private sales tax on maritime freight charges till June 30.
As market prices of maritime freight are still higher than their normal rates due to the Red Sea crisis, the decision is aimed at reducing prices of imported goods, a domestic news agency reported.

The cabinet also reviewed the periodic report of the ministry of industry and trade on measures taken to control inflation and enhance the strategic stock of basic commodities.

The cabinet also approved the mandating reasons for the draft 2024 Financial Bylaw for Municipalities for 2024 to send it to the Bureau of Legislation and Opinion to complete procedures for its approval.

Source:https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textiles-policy-news/jordan-extends-exemption-from-customs-duties-sea-freight-charges-tax-295175-newsdetails.htm

Compliance improves in garment sector despite gaps: Better Work Jordan

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Better Work Jordan’s 2023 Annual Report has recorded violations of national laws and international labour standards in the country’s garment sector, especially in occupational safety and health (OSH), despite progress in compliance and the joint efforts of the government, employers and labour unions for a collaborative garment industry.
In the last few years, Better Work Jordan has observed improvements in recruitment practices, including reducing the instances of pregnancy tests for migrant workers and of migrants paying recruitment fees.

After stakeholders addressed these issues head-on in 2019, non-compliance rates increased as existing violations were caught, but now violations have substantially decreased.

Most factory-level engagement in Jordan—monitoring working conditions and advising on improvements—is now done jointly with the tripartite partners or exclusively by these stakeholders, the annual report pointed out.

Labour inspectors are now a part of all factory compliance assessments, and in 38 per cent of the cases, they conduct assessments independently.

The advisory function is split between the ministry of labour, which covers OSH (26 per cent of all advisory visits), and the General Trade Union of Workers in Textile, Garment and Clothing Industries (JTGCU), which covers social dialogue (41 per cent of all advisory visits). The remaining visits were done by Better Work Jordan.

JTGCU hired seven trade union organisers to increase its presence in all industrial zones and among all workers.

Better Work Jordan conducts ‘shadowing assessments’ and a rigorous quality assurance/quality control system. In the future, more training and capacity building is planned to ensure that national constituents deliver high-quality services.

In 2022, 14 per cent of factories were non-compliant for the issue of recruitment fees, and nine per cent for the issue of pregnancy tests compared to 30 per cent and 55 per cent respectively in 2020.

Better Work Jordan is mandatory for garment factories that export to the United States under the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement.

As of December 2022, 95 factories employing 78,617 workers were enrolled in the programme. Migrants constitute three-quarters of the workforce, with the remainder consisted of Jordanians.

The majority of workers are women—nearly 75 per cent of the production workforce.

In 2023, the programme seeks increased stakeholder ownership of compliance outcomes; sustainability of the Mental Health Project; research for evidence-based policy making; and increased focus on the recruitment process for migrant workers.

Source:https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textiles-policy-news/compliance-improves-in-garment-sector-despite-gaps-better-work-jordan-288022-newsdetails.htm

Jordan extends exemption from customs duties, sea freight charges tax

Scion Industrial Engineering

The Jordanian cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh, recently extended its January 21 decision that exempted customs duties and general and private sales tax on maritime freight charges till June 30.
As market prices of maritime freight are still higher than their normal rates due to the Red Sea crisis, the decision is aimed at reducing prices of imported goods, a domestic news agency reported.

The cabinet also reviewed the periodic report of the ministry of industry and trade on measures taken to control inflation and enhance the strategic stock of basic commodities.

The cabinet also approved the mandating reasons for the draft 2024 Financial Bylaw for Municipalities for 2024 to send it to the Bureau of Legislation and Opinion to complete procedures for its approval.

Source:https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textiles-policy-news/jordan-extends-exemption-from-customs-duties-sea-freight-charges-tax-295175-newsdetails.htm

IFC launches Dutch-backed textile sector project in Jordan

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The International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently launched an initiative in Jordan for the textile sector that is backed by the government of the Netherlands.
The project aims at facilitating new and expanded investment in the industry, boost export volumes and create employment opportunities.

It encompasses a comprehensive approach, including sector analysis, investment climate enhancements through targeted reforms, identification of strategic investment prospects and attracting new investment, a domestic news agency reported.

IFC regional director for the Middle East Khawaja Aftab Ahmed highlighted at the launch event his organisation’s commitment to leveraging its global expertise to unlock the vast potential of the knitwear sector, creating new employment prospects and fostering sustainable economic growth by collaborating with the Jordan Chamber of Industry and the Jordanian government.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, a pivotal agreement was inked between the Jordan Chamber of Industry and IFC to commence project implementation.

Jordanian minister of industry, trade and supply Yousef Shamali outlined his country’s strategic vision to position itself as a regional hub for the textile industry.

Source:https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/announcement/ifc-launches-dutch-backed-textile-sector-project-in-jordan-295432-newsdetails.htm

Jordanian PM opens garment factory in Karak

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Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh recently inaugurated a garment factory of Classic Fashion Apparel in Karak.
The 45,000-sq-m factory will be the main production hub for the company’s operations in the southern region of the country and is expected to create over 1,000 direct jobs.

Plans are under way to open another factory in Quweira by 2026, which is expected to create 800 jobs.

Khasawneh underlined the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive investment environment, noting that such investment is vital to achieving the Economic Modernisation Vision, which aims to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities, a news agency reported.

The Vision aims at creating around a million jobs by 2033.

The company’s factories in the country manufacture products for several popular brands and employ more than 6,000 workers.

The company also has factories in Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh, India, Turkiye and the United States, and plans to expand into Central America next year.

Source:https://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/manufacturing-news/jordanian-pm-opens-garment-factory-in-karak-297754-newsdetails.htm

Jordanian Industrial Estate Erect New Industrial Buildings in Al-Mwaqqar Industrial Estate

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Jordan Industrial Estate Company announced the establishment of new industrial buildings in Al-Mwaqqar Industrial Estate to meet the growing demand for investment in the Estate and the increasing interest of numerous investors. Today, the company signed two implementation and engineering supervision agreements with a local construction company and an engineering consultancy company covering an area of 11,000 square meters, with an estimated cost of approximately (2) million Jordanian Dinars.

Mr. Omar Jwaid, the Director General of Jordan Industrial Estates Company, stated that the new buildings in Al-Muwaqqar Industrial Estate are being constructed with various sizes ranging from (328) M2 to (813) M2, adhering to the highest specifications. He praised the magnitude of the achievement reached by the Industrial Estate today and the growing investment activity, positioning it at the forefront of Jordan’s industrial Estate under the management and development of the company across different regions of the kingdom.

It is worth noting that Jordan Industrial Estate Company completed the second phase works inAl- Muwaqqar Industrial Estate last year, covering an area of (305) dunums, and announced the opening of investment opportunities in it.

Source:https://www.jiec.com/en/news/187/

Kingdom’s industry index grew by 1% in Q2

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The Jordan Chamber of Industry said that the industry index, recorded a growth of 1 per cent during the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Saturday.

More than 62 per cent of industrial companies and businessmen expressed optimism and positive expectations for performance during the coming period of this year, According to a statement by the chamber,

The President of the Jordan Chambers of Industry Fathi Jaghbeer pointed out that the growth was achieved despite the consequences of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the developments of events in the region and their impact on industrial exports and supply chains, the decline in price levels and fluctuations globally, and the decline in demand for various sectors.

He pointed out that five industrial sectors achieved growth within the index of the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, led by the food and catering industries, livestock, chemical, cosmetics, leather, knitting, plastic, rubber, therapeutic and medical supplies.

While Jaghbeer pointed to the decline in other industrial sectors, which are packaging, engineering, mining, wood, furniture and construction.

Source:https://jordantimes.com/news/business/kingdoms-industry-index-grew-1-q2