The clothing and leather industry continues to grow, with a long history in Jordan. The first clothing factory in Jordan dates back to 1949. The economic openness that Jordan has witnessed since 2000 created a real window for the growth of this industry, which achieved a qualitative leap after the Kingdom joined the World Trade Organization and signed free trade agreements with a number of countries, enabling it to attract investors and increase its exports.

In 2018, the Jerash Garments and Fashions Manufacturing Company in Jordan was listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in New York City, becoming the first Arab company to be listed on this stock exchange.

The production value of the textile sector rose from JD139 million in 2000 to JD1.8 billion in 2022, with major international companies investing in the Jordanian market. This led to an increase in the production capacities of small- and medium-sized companies, with their number now reaching over 1,000 factories, from 600 in 1999, creating 76,000 job opportunities.

This sector’s exports exceeded JD1.6 billion in 2022, marking a substantial increase from JD112 million dinars in 2000, marking an increase by 13.5 times over the past two decades, and thus the sector now accounts for over 18 per cent of total exports and contributes over 2.4 per cent of the GDP.

The Economic Modernisation Vision (2022-2033) outlines plans to increase the sector’s competitiveness through 10 initiative, including increasing its value added by 10 per cent to $3.8 billion in 2033 and raising its exports by 12 per cent annually.