Jordan and Germany sign an agreement to support about 20 SMEs in creative industries through technical assistance and potential financial support, with priority for women-led firms and inclusive employers.
Jordan’s National Fund for Enterprise Support (NAFES) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have signed an agreement to support around 20 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the country’s creative industries.
The agreement establishes a joint support mechanism aimed at helping businesses in sectors including jewellery, filmmaking, e-sports and gaming strengthen their capabilities and prepare for expansion. It was signed by Higher Council for Science and Technology Secretary-General Mashhoor Refai and GIZ Project Lead Elisaveta Kostova.
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The initiative is aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which focuses on sustainable economic growth, job creation and strengthening private-sector competitiveness. Creative industries and film production are identified among the economic sectors that can contribute to the country’s growth under the vision’s roadmap.
Under the first phase of the programme, NAFES will assess the participating companies’ innovation capabilities and provide specialised technical support. The assistance is intended to help businesses address operational and technical requirements as they prepare for expansion and implementation of their growth plans.
Companies that meet the programme’s eligibility requirements will then be able to move into a second phase, where they can be referred to NAFES for direct financial support. The two-stage approach links technical preparation with access to potential funding.
The programme also places emphasis on widening access to business support. Women-led and women-owned enterprises will be prioritised, along with companies that employ people with disabilities. GIZ said Jordan’s cultural and creative industries have potential to contribute to export growth.
NAFES Executive Director Moath Alaween said connecting technical readiness with national funding mechanisms can provide young businesses with more comprehensive support. The programme is expected to help participating companies move from capacity building towards implementation and potential expansion.
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Small businesses account for the overwhelming majority of Jordan’s enterprise base. A 2018 business census cited in a GIZ-backed financial inclusion study recorded 167,519 active enterprises, of which 166,638, or 99.5%, were micro, small or medium-sized businesses. Micro enterprises employing one to four people represented 89.7% of the total.
The initiative comes as Jordan seeks to strengthen private-sector participation and employment opportunities. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Jordan Country Strategy 2025-2030, the country’s unemployment rate was 21.4% in 2024, while youth unemployment stood at 46.6%.