addustour -
The representative of the leather industries and knitting sector in the Jordan Chamber of Industry, such as Engineer Ihab Qadri, called for an urgent decision to be taken during the second half of the month of Ramadan, regarding the reopening of the economic sectors, the reduction of the hours of partial ban and the abolition of the comprehensive ban (on Friday).

In a press statement, Al-Qadiri said that the governmental measures exhausted most economic sectors in their various fields, as those decisions greatly affected the purchasing power of the Jordanian consumer, and his behavior towards these commodities, as a result of the great change in the consumption pattern of the Jordanian citizen, as one of the effects resulting from the repercussions the crisis.

He indicated that the Corona pandemic has deepened the implications for the leather industries and knitting sector, as it is still in the process of the sectors most affected by the pandemic.

He pointed out that the leather and knitted industries sector suffers from a noticeable decline in its performance in both small and medium enterprises that depend on the local and regional market, and large enterprises that depend on the global export markets, especially the American market.

Qadri pointed out that the local sales of small and medium enterprises have been greatly affected by a decline of more than 60% over the past years, as a result of the decrease in demand in the local market, since leather products and knits are non-essential commodities, in addition to comprehensive and partial ban policies that limit the movement of the sector and its capabilities to dispose of its production Especially during the seasonal holidays and the closure of schools and universities.

Al-Qadri noted that exports of large enterprises, according to the preliminary figures issued by the local industrial chambers, recorded a decline in their growth rate during the first quarter of the current year compared to the same quarter of the previous year, which indicates that it has not reached the stage of recovery, which allows the recycling of its production wheel as it was. Before the pandemic, it needs engines and supports to reach this stage.

Moreover, he stressed the need to maintain the sector within the Estidama program, which was recently launched by the government, as the sector is one of the most affected by the pandemic, as it has a great impact in supporting the continuity of the sector's facilities and preventing them from bankruptcy and collapse, God forbid, and enabling them to retain their employment in this exceptional circumstance. The trouble is over unemployment rates and job opportunities. 

Al-Qadri noted that despite all the effects of the pandemic and its negative consequences on his activities and performance, he set his sights on the interest of the Jordanian workforce, as he committed himself to keeping it completely and not laying off any worker from it, and this came as a result of the concerted efforts of all production parties. It should be noted here that the leather and knitting sector over the last decade was able to increase the number of Jordanian workers in it by more than 118%, especially through the creation of about 27 production branches in various governorates, which had a great role by employing more than 20 thousand Jordanian workers. Less fortunate regions. 

Al-Qadri stressed the sector's ability to overcome the repercussions of the Corona crisis, provided a number of basic requirements are provided to it, to enable it to preserve its gains in recent years, which had clear effects on the national economy, which were presented to the government in the form of the sector's response plan to the repercussions of the pandemic, through what It includes reducing production costs and protecting the sector's products from dumping imports in a manner that contributes to the continuity of their business and the preservation of the Jordanian workforce.

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