Alrai - Prime Minister Dr. Omar Al-Razzaz met today, Tuesday, the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, within the framework of the consultative meetings held by the government with various major economic sectors to determine the priorities of its work for the current year and during the coming period.

During the meeting, which was attended by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tariq Al-Hamouri, Secretary-General of the Ministry Yusef Al-Shamali, Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry Eng. Fathi Al-Jaghbir, heads of industry chambers in the governorates and representatives of industrial sectors, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of partnership with the industrial sector, which is a major driver of the national economy, as it includes about 17 thousand establishments and employ about a quarter of a million citizens.

"Although Jordan is a small country with its resources, it is great for its creativity, and we are proud that our national industries have reached more than 140 countries, and the volume of national exports has increased during the past year by up to 8,2 percent over the same period of the previous year," he said, stressing that the government aims from a decade These meetings listen to the sector's observations and recommendations on the challenges they face and put them in a working matrix to discuss them and apply what is possible of them.

He stressed that many issues that had been agreed to start work with the industrial sector as of the beginning of this year had entered into force, within the framework of the matrix between the government and the sector that was discussed at the end of 2018, including reducing energy prices by 11 percent and the responses issued under the tax law Income on export and employment of Jordanian workers associated with work in the governorates, in addition to energy rebates on the excess consumption that is reflected in additional production in the industrial sectors.

The Prime Minister pointed to the recent decision by the government regarding restricting government purchases to the local Jordanian product as long as there is competition and with the participation of two or more parties.

Concerning what was proposed by the representatives of the industrial sector regarding the necessity of having a balance in economic relations with various countries, the Prime Minister affirmed, "We will not be satisfied unless there is equal or equal treatment."

On the sector’s demands to allocate a plot of land for exhibitions, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply and the Municipality of Amman to develop a concept within a month from now about an appropriate site dedicated to holding exhibitions and start promoting it as an investment opportunity.

Regarding what was presented by the heads of industrial chambers and representatives of the sector regarding the rumors, their promotion and their impact on the Jordanian economy, the Prime Minister affirmed that the government pledges and is committed to convert those who launch rumors and provide false and misleading information harmful to our national economy and the life of the Jordanian citizen to justice.

In press statements, after the meeting, Al-Razzaz said, "Today, with the spirit of one team and with full participation, we touched on setting priorities and goals that we will work together to achieve during the year 2020, in particular raising the percentage of exports in the industrial sectors and overcoming the remaining challenges."

He stressed that there is an institutional and persistent work to facilitate the export process and control production costs and reduce them if possible, and it is possible to overcome all challenges, stressing, "We rely a lot on this sector to increase economic growth during the coming years, and in the employment of Jordanian labor."

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply and the Jordan Chamber of Industry, their real involvement in this dialogue and the follow-up to its results in the spirit of one team.

For his part, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Dr. Tareq Al-Hamouri said, in a press statement after the meeting, that the Prime Minister held a meeting today at the Ministry’s building with the industrial sector, to complement his meeting yesterday with the commercial sector, and to embody the partnership and cooperation between the government and the private sector.

He stressed the importance of the industrial sector, which constitutes 25 percent of the size of the economy, pointing out that during the meeting, there was a clear talk about the incentives granted by the government to the various economic sectors, whether the real estate sector, cars, energy, samples, fees and costs in some sub-sectors.

Al-Hamouri pointed out that the meeting included a presentation of what the Jordanian industry has reached, especially the large increase in exports, which approached a barrier of 5 billion dinars in exports of domestic and manufacturing industry, stressing that "as a percentage of our exports exceeded most of the exporting countries historically."

He added that the meeting witnessed talk about some of the problems that were dealt with during the year and a half with the industrial sector and the solution of many of them, pointing out that there are committees from the industrial and commercial sectors that began to identify some problems and obstacles, with a view to reaching their solution gradually.

For his part, Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Eng. Fathi Al-Jaghbir, pointed out the importance of the meeting, which comes as part of a series of previous meetings with the government and embodies the partnership between the public and private sectors.

He said that the meeting witnessed consensus on many issues and issues of concern to the industrial sector, stressing that these issues will be reflected positively on the Jordanian industry, whether in the local market or export.

Al-Jaghbeir stressed the importance of the decisions taken by the government during the current year to revitalize the industrial sector, including: obtaining incentives by reducing 11 percent on the electricity bill, and studying the application of a reciprocal policy with countries that Jordan deals with and causing problems for Jordanian industry, expecting the growth of Jordanian exports in The year 2020 in light of the partnership work with the government.

For their part, heads of industrial chambers in the governorates and representatives of the industrial sector presented proposals regarding upgrading this sector and enhancing its role in the national economy.

They stressed the importance of strengthening efforts to reopen traditional markets to Jordanian products and industries, and the need to achieve the required balance between local products and foreign imports and to strengthen measures to protect the local product.

They also presented demands that would contribute to reducing transportation costs for the industrial sector and all economic sectors.

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