The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced on Monday it will assist Jordan in implementing an “integrated program” which aims to improve the competitiveness of the food industries within a conducive business environment, reported the official Petra news agency.
The three-year program seeks to help Jordanian businesses to overcome industrial problems and upgrade their performance, product quality, and standards and specifications, said the agency.
According to UNIDO’s director general, Carlos Magarinos, small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) will be the focus of the initiative.
He acknowledged that some of Jordan's huge businesses were able to compete in world markets. But, he argued that SMEs, which make up the bulk of local enterprises, need care to survive in the globalization era.
Magarinos hopes the Jordanian experience will be a pilot project that UNIDO would implement in other countries in the region, said the agency.
Although UNIDO has already allocated $424,000 to initiate the program, and secured some $1.2 million through the Italian government, both the UN body and the ministry of trade and industry will have to work to provide the remaining sum, said Petra – Albawaba.com
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