New EU support for businesses in Jordan

Brussels, 21-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have announced new funding for Jordan which will provide additional support for sustainable and inclusive growth and economic development, particularly for small and medium-sized (SMEs) enterprises.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, announcing the adoption of these programmes said: “This new assistance will in particular help small businesses, which play a crucial role in stimulating economic growth and creating new jobs in Jordan. As we demonstrated with the EU-Jordan Task Force earlier this year, the EU is supporting both economic and political development in Jordan, which is a very important partner for us. Political and economic progress must always go hand in hand.”

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, added: “This new support is another concrete example of the continuing efforts of the EU to support SMEs and starts-up and create sustainable jobs, helping to improve social development and enhance the living conditions and standards of people in Jordan.”

The new funding will add €10 million to the Support for Enterprise and Export Development (SEED) programme, which has been running since 2008. SEED was set up to enhance the competitiveness of the Jordanian agriculture industry and manufacturing businesses, as well as to strengthen representative organisations such as the “Jordanian enterprise development corporation” (JEDCO), promote Jordanian exports and contribute to the reduction of the national trade imbalance by enhancing the SMEs competitiveness. The additional support will help to create jobs and income-generating opportunities in export industries.

Background

A preliminary assessment of the impact of the grants on the beneficiaries’ performance in Jordan shows that most of the objectives of the programmes are being achieved, and that they are to a large extent contributing to SMEs upgrading and internationalisation. The programme significantly contributed to enhance JEDCO’s institutional capabilities to provide support to SMEs, and consolidate its role as the leading SMEs development agency in Jordan.

more to follow

For more information

Website of the DG Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Website of EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/fule/index_en.htm

On the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI):

www.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/neighbourhood/