His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the need to develop the industrial sector to support the national economy and create jobs, calling for increasing the production of the raw material needed to enable local industries to meet domestic and export market demands.

During a visit to Giant Industrial Group in Mafraq Governorate, King Abdullah commended the quality and volume of sanitiser and disinfectant manufacturing in Jordan, noting the importance of expanding it as demand increases due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

His Majesty toured the industrial group’s facilities, which include a factory that produces four varieties of raw material used in the manufacturing of sanitisers and cosmetics, with an investment volume of JD14 million.

The King listened to a briefing on the group, which was founded in 1991 and employs 420 workers, 80 per cent of whom are Jordanians.

The group, which includes six factories, exports its products to 41 countries worldwide, and its exports have seen an increase by nearly 24 per cent in the first half of this year.

Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Khasawneh, Adviser to His Majesty for Policies and Media Kemal Al Nasser, and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Tariq Hammouri accompanied His Majesty on the visit.