Amman, Sept. 28 (Petra) - The Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO), in cooperation with the International Trade Center (ITC), launched the Qarar (Decision) program under the "Improving Business Environment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises through Trade Facilitation" project to enhance Jordan’s trade flow, strengthen the competitiveness of the national economy, and attract investment, while safeguarding consumer health and safety.
The JSMO Director-General Abeer Zuhair said the program reflects the organization’s mission of balancing consumer protection with trade facilitation, noting that reviewing and re-engineering inspection procedures is a core requirement of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement. She stressed that the JSMO staff monitoring imports serve as the first line of defense for citizens’ health and safety, while also acting as active partners in supporting trade.
Zuhair described the program’s launch as a milestone achievement added to the record of joint successes with the ITC, praising the dedicated efforts of both teams in completing the project efficiently and in record time.
Raghad AlTali, manager of the ITC project, explained that the program was developed after an in-depth study of challenges and feedback from service recipients on inspection procedures. She emphasized that completing the program in record time is a success story that demonstrates the JSMO’s deep awareness of the importance of compliance with international requirements under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
The JSMO Assistant Director-General for Regulatory Affairs Wafa Momani gave a presentation on the project’s objectives, achievements, and the program’s role in streamlining import inspection procedures, ensuring consumer health and safety, supporting the investment climate, and strengthening local and international partners’ trust.
The event concluded with a call to continue the JSMO-ITC cooperation and expand the program’s scope in the future to cover all the JSMO requirements, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision.
According to the ITC, the Improving Business Environment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises through Trade Facilitation project is designed to simplify cross-border trade procedures, reduce costs and delays, and enhance transparency in line with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
The project includes initiatives such as the Jordan Trade Facilitation Portal and the re-engineering of regulatory processes. It aims to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, foster investment, and create jobs, while maintaining consumer protection and aligning Jordan with international standards.
//Petra// AO
