Amman, Aug. 28 (Petra) – The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), on Thursday held a workshop titled "Your Idea Is Ready, But Your Project Isn’t" to support youth and women entrepreneurs.

The workshop, attended by university students and startup founders benefiting from business incubators, aimed to provide participants with practical steps for launching businesses, familiarize them with national and international support frameworks, and showcase successful models of Jordanian businesswomen.

The JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali underlined entrepreneurship as a critical driver for enhancing women’s participation in the national economy. She noted the gap between women’s higher education attainment, representing 60 percent of graduates, and their low economic participation rate of 14–15 percent, stressing the need to raise this percentage to better utilize national talent.

Ali highlighted recent reforms to labor and social security legislation aimed at fostering a women-friendly work environment, alongside the JNCW initiatives, including a national map for women’s entrepreneurship and the adoption of a unified definition for women-owned or women-managed enterprises, designed to strengthen targeting of support programs.

Dean of Student Affairs at the University Mariam Biltawi emphasized the institution’s role in nurturing entrepreneurial initiatives, explaining that its philosophy treats students’ entry into the university as the start of their professional journey. She noted that several students have already established startups providing tangible services locally and internationally.

Reem Aslan, Director of the ILO’s Decent Work for Women Program, reviewed the organization’s tools for supporting entrepreneurs, including the development of market systems, training programs, and adherence to international labor standards that safeguard the right to decent work, equal pay, and safe working environments. She also pointed to emerging opportunities in the green and care economies, stressing the importance of sound management, planning, and strong team-building in ensuring the success of projects.

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Assistant Secretary-General for Technical Affairs Yasmin Khreisat highlighted the ministry’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy through supportive policies. She said the workshop introduced participants to registration and licensing procedures, legal obligations, and the importance of networking with supporting institutions. She also pointed to the establishment of a Women’s Empowerment Unit within the ministry, underscoring its commitment to advancing women and youth in the labor market.

The workshop included two main sessions: the first, presented by Maysoun Khreisat, Founder and General Manager of Adaa Sustainable Development Consulting, showcased her entrepreneurial journey and reviewed relevant legal and support frameworks. The second session featured a practical exercise titled "My Dream Project Map" led by the ILO, aimed at sharpening participants’ skills in project planning and execution.

//Petra// AJ

28/08/2025 17:26:00