Latest news with #FadiAtrash
Arab News
19-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Palestinian hospital chief calls for pressure on Israel
HELSINKI: An East Jerusalem hospital chief told AFP on Monday that Gaza was in a 'catastrophic' state after weeks of a complete blockade of humanitarian aid and called on countries to act to end the suffering of civilians. Fadi Atrash, chief executive of the Augusta Victoria-Hospital in East Jerusalem — which helps Palestinians from the occupied territories and Gaza — said he could no longer 'find the words' to describe the crisis faced by people in war-torn Gaza. 'We are facing a very, very critical and catastrophic situation,' he said, with all components of the health care system destroyed, and health care workers 'running out of energy.' Augusta Victoria, which had a hospital in Gaza that has been destroyed in Israeli bombings now provides health care in Gaza with the limited resources available, Atrash said. Atrash visited Finland — which has not recognized Palestine as a state — on Monday as part of a tour of the Nordic countries. 'My main message for the Nordic countries is to put pressure to stop the war, to stop the killing.' Humanitarian food, medical and fuel supplies have been blocked from entering Gaza for 11 weeks, and the World Health Organization has warned that two million people face starvation. Finland's President Alexander Stubb joined other European leaders on Monday to call on Israel to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Stubb also said 'forced displacement of populations is a war crime and cannot form part of any solution,' in a post on X. Israel this month approved an expanded military offensive in Gaza but has agreed to let limited aid into Gaza.
Jordan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Women make 37% of Jordan's industrial workforce
Women make up around 37 per cent of the workforce in Jordan's industrial sector, according to figures from the Jordan Chamber of Industry's Centre for Studies and Strategies (File photo) AMMAN — Women make up around 37 per cent of the workforce in Jordan's industrial sector, according to figures from the Jordan Chamber of Industry's (JCI) Centre for Studies and Strategies. Fadi Atrash, who represents the therapeutic industries and medical supply sector at JCI, told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, that this figure reflects the growing presence of women across all levels of industrial production. He emphasised that empowering women remains a 'top' priority for the sector and is aligned with national policies aimed at boosting women's economic participation and achieving greater equality in the workplace. Atrash noted that the industrial sector plays a vital role in expanding opportunities for women, both as employees and business owners, and that this effort is tied to broader plans to ensure fair employment across the board. According to the chamber's data, more than 99,000 women are currently employed in the industrial sector out of a total of some 268,000 workers. The majority of them are Jordanians working in around 18,000 industrial facilities across the country. He added that over 1,500 women serve as partners, members, or business owners in more than 600 industrial companies. In many factories, women make up a significant share of the workforce, which Atrash attributed to their 'high productivity, adherence to labour laws, and job stability.' He also noted that the employee turnover rate among women stands at just 15 per cent, compared to 25 per cent for their male counterparts. Atrash highlighted that the women's empowerment strategy within Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) includes a 'strong' focus on promoting women's initiatives in the manufacturing sector. Atrash stressed the need to continue supporting women's inclusion in a wider range of industrial roles and to enhance their participation in decision-making processes, adding that these goals are central to the EMV, which aims to create over 280,000 job opportunities for Jordanian women in the coming years.
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan's pharmaceutical exports grow 14.8% in 2024, overcoming regional challenges
AMMAN: The Kingdom's pharmaceutical exports increased by 14.8 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching JD611 million despite regional supply chain disruptions caused by the Israeli aggression on Gaza, according to the latest foreign trade data from the Department of Statistics. Fadi Atrash, representative of the therapeutic industries and medical supplies sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said that pharmaceutical exports were the second-fastest growing industrial export sector in 2024, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He noted that the industry's growth reflects its resilience and recovery despite regional instability. Atrash highlighted that pharmaceutical companies introduced new, innovative drug categories last year, while demand for Jordanian medicines increased in neighbouring markets, adding that several sector enablers outlined in the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) were implemented, particularly in streamlining registration procedures. The pharmaceutical sector is a key pillar of the EMV, contributing to the expansion of high-value exports, Atrash said, noting that pharmaceuticals account for some 5 per cent of Jordan's total industrial exports. Jordan's pharmaceutical industry, one of the oldest in the Arab world, began with the establishment of a factory in Salt in 1962. Today, the country exports 80 per cent of its pharmaceutical production, he noted. Atrash added that the sector represents 85 per cent of the therapeutic industries and medical supplies industry, comprising 27 facilities across the Kingdom with a registered capital of JD280 million. It employs about 7,000 people, with women making up 35 per cent of the workforce. Jordanian pharmaceutical exports currently reach 85 global markets, with key destinations including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United States, the UAE, Algeria, and Yemen, he said. The sector has an annual production capacity of JD1.5 billion and specialises in branded generic medicines, adhering to international quality standards, the sector representative highlighted. Atrash noted that the Kingdom produces around 4,500 pharmaceutical products, covering a range of medical specialties such as chronic diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, neurology, psychiatry, allergies, and gastrointestinal conditions. Jordanian manufacturers produce various pharmaceutical forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, drops, sprays, solutions, intravenous injections, and creams, he added. Atrash commended the role of regulatory authorities, particularly the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, in supporting pharmaceutical sector growth through modern regulations and oversight, highlighting efforts by the Jordan Chamber of Industry to expand exports and open new markets, including participation in the Middle East Pharma Exhibition in Saudi Arabia. The EMV aims to increase employment in the pharmaceutical sector to 16,000 by 2033 and boost exports by 20.3 per cent annually, reaching JD 2.1 billion by 2033, up from JD 200 million in 2021. It also targets JD1.1 billion in new investments, raising the sector's GDP contribution to JD1.7 billion by 2033, compared to JD536 million in 2021. The vision outlines several initiatives to enhance the industry's competitiveness, including improving productivity, reducing costs, developing specialised talent, and introducing pricing mechanisms to ensure market stability. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
10-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan's pharmaceutical exports grow 14.8% in 2024, overcoming regional challenges
AMMAN — The Kingdom's pharmaceutical exports increased by 14.8 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching JD611 million despite regional supply chain disruptions caused by the Israeli aggression on Gaza, according to the latest foreign trade data from the Department of Statistics. Fadi Atrash, representative of the therapeutic industries and medical supplies sector at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, said that pharmaceutical exports were the second-fastest growing industrial export sector in 2024, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He noted that the industry's growth reflects its resilience and recovery despite regional instability. Atrash highlighted that pharmaceutical companies introduced new, innovative drug categories last year, while demand for Jordanian medicines increased in neighbouring markets, adding that several sector enablers outlined in the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) were implemented, particularly in streamlining registration procedures. The pharmaceutical sector is a key pillar of the EMV, contributing to the expansion of high-value exports, Atrash said, noting that pharmaceuticals account for some 5 per cent of Jordan's total industrial exports. Jordan's pharmaceutical industry, one of the oldest in the Arab world, began with the establishment of a factory in Salt in 1962. Today, the country exports 80 per cent of its pharmaceutical production, he noted. Atrash added that the sector represents 85 per cent of the therapeutic industries and medical supplies industry, comprising 27 facilities across the Kingdom with a registered capital of JD280 million. It employs about 7,000 people, with women making up 35 per cent of the workforce. Jordanian pharmaceutical exports currently reach 85 global markets, with key destinations including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United States, the UAE, Algeria, and Yemen, he said. The sector has an annual production capacity of JD1.5 billion and specialises in branded generic medicines, adhering to international quality standards, the sector representative highlighted. Atrash noted that the Kingdom produces around 4,500 pharmaceutical products, covering a range of medical specialties such as chronic diseases, oncology, infectious diseases, neurology, psychiatry, allergies, and gastrointestinal conditions. Jordanian manufacturers produce various pharmaceutical forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, drops, sprays, solutions, intravenous injections, and creams, he added. Atrash commended the role of regulatory authorities, particularly the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, in supporting pharmaceutical sector growth through modern regulations and oversight, highlighting efforts by the Jordan Chamber of Industry to expand exports and open new markets, including participation in the Middle East Pharma Exhibition in Saudi Arabia. The EMV aims to increase employment in the pharmaceutical sector to 16,000 by 2033 and boost exports by 20.3 per cent annually, reaching JD 2.1 billion by 2033, up from JD 200 million in 2021. It also targets JD1.1 billion in new investments, raising the sector's GDP contribution to JD1.7 billion by 2033, compared to JD536 million in 2021. The vision outlines several initiatives to enhance the industry's competitiveness, including improving productivity, reducing costs, developing specialised talent, and introducing pricing mechanisms to ensure market stability.
