King visits three production factories in Al Muwaqqar Industrial City

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday visited three factories in Al Muwaqqar Industrial City that specialise in food products, packaging, and garment manufacturing, and that are creating employment opportunities for Jordanians.

His Majesty’s first stop was at Al Kbous Group for Industrial Trading and Investment factories, which have been producing tea and coffee for local consumption as well as export since the establishment of the group’s Jordan branch in 2013, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Chairman Hassan Al Kbous and CEO Mamoon Al Kbous gave a briefing about the group’s factories, which have a production capacity of 7,200 tonnes and employ around 210 Jordanians.

Founded in Yemen, Al Kbous Group has investments in seven countries in the region and globally, and has chosen to increase its industrial investments in Jordan through the establishment of an industrial potato factory and soft drinks factory.

According to company officials, the group plans, as part of its expansion, to open new markets for its tea products, 95 per cent of which are exported to more than 32 countries.

The King’s next visit was to the Quality Carton Packaging (QPack) factory, a local company founded by ZalatimoIndustries in 2005, which employs 225 Jordanians, the statement said. 

The factory distributes its products to the local market, and exports approximately 7,000 tonnes annually to markets in the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia.

Group Chairman Marwan Zalatimo and CEO Mohammad Zalatimo gave a briefing on the manufacture of packaging for the food, trade, and shipping sectors, which the factory produces at a capacity of 25,000 tonnes per year.

His Majesty also visited the Pine Tree Company for Textile Manufacturing factory, where CEO Moath Al Saaida gave a briefing about the company, whose exports exceed $100 million annually.

Established in 2014, the Pine Tree Company employs around 600 Jordanians, including 60 industrial engineers, out of a total of 1,730 employees. Jordanians hold 98 per cent of management positions at the factory, which is affiliated with Singaporean sportswear manufacturer Ramatex.

Jordan’s industrial sector employs more than 250,000 employees, 90 per cent of whom are Jordanian, and attracts foreign investments while providing high-quality products that reach international markets, thereby contributing to economic growth.