AMMAN — The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on Thursday held a workshop on entrepreneurship skills.

 

The workshop titled with "Your Idea Is Ready, But Your Project Isn’t" to support youth and women entrepreneurs, attended by university students and startup founders benefiting from business incubators.

 

It aimed to provide participants with practical steps for launching businesses, familiarise them with national and international support frameworks, and showcase successful models of Jordanian businesswomen.

 

JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali underlined entrepreneurship as a critical driver for enhancing women’s participation in the national economy, The Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

She noted the gap between women’s higher education attainment, representing 60 per cent of graduates, and their low economic participation rate of 14–15 per cent, stressing the need to raise this percentage to better utilise national talent.

 

Ali stressed recent reforms to labour and social security legislation aimed at fostering a women-friendly work environment,

 

The JNCW initiatives include 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 programmes.

 

Dean of Student Affairs at the University Mariam Biltawi stressed the institution’s role in enhancing entrepreneurial initiatives.

 

She noted that several students have already established startups providing tangible services locally and internationally.

 

Director of the ILO’s Decent Work for Women Programme Reem Aslan, reviewed the organisation’s tools for supporting entrepreneurs, including the development of market systems, training programmes, 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's Assistant Secretary-General for Technical Affairs Yasmeen 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.

 

Khreisat also pointed to the establishment of a Women’s Empowerment Unit within the ministry, underscoring its commitment to advancing women and youth in the labour market.

 

The workshop included two main sessions; the first a speaker experience on entrepreneurial journey and reviewed relevant legal and support frameworks.

 

While 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, reported.