Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Jordan: Workshop Highlights Development Opportunities and Challenges

Strategic Insights -

A workshop hosted by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) aimed to support youth and women entrepreneurs in Jordan. The event, titled "Your Idea Is Ready, But Your Project Isn't," brought together university students and startup founders benefiting from business incubators to provide practical steps for launching businesses, familiarize them with national and international support frameworks, and showcase successful models of Jordanian businesswomen.

Key Takeaways:

  • The JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in enhancing women's participation in the national economy, highlighting the gap between women's higher education attainment (60%) and their low economic participation rate (14-15%).
  • Recent reforms to labor and social security legislation aim to foster a women-friendly work environment, alongside JNCW initiatives such as a national map for women's entrepreneurship and a unified definition for women-owned or women-managed enterprises.
  • The University's Dean of Student Affairs, Mariam Biltawi, noted that several students have already established startups providing tangible services locally and internationally, with the institution's philosophy treating students' entry into the university as the start of their professional journey.
  • Reem Aslan, Director of the ILO's Decent Work for Women Program, reviewed the organization's tools for supporting entrepreneurs, including market systems, training programs, and adherence to international labor standards.
  • 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, including the establishment of a Women's Empowerment Unit.
  • The workshop included two main sessions: a presentation by Maysoun Khreisat, Founder and General Manager of Adaa Sustainable Development Consulting, and a practical exercise titled "My Dream Project Map" led by the ILO.

Statistics:

  • 60% of Jordanian graduates are women (Source: JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali)
  • 14-15% of women are economically active in Jordan (Source: JNCW Secretary-General Maha Ali)
  • The workshop was attended by university students and startup founders benefiting from business incubators (Source: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply)

Sources:

  • Jordan News Agency (28 Aug 2025)
  • Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply
  • Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW)
  • International Labor Organization (ILO)