Markets to be explored - Middle East

Jordan
The country offers good prospects for Italian companies supplying wrapping, bottling and packaging machines for food products (in particular olive oil) and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (in particular products from the Dead Sea).

The Jordanian output in these areas is growing and is exported to nearby countries. The American and European markets have also been explored, hence it is essential that local concerns improve marketing, wrapping and packaging of their products for export.
The volume of the Jordanian market is around 20-25 miln. euros: according to  recent local statistics for 2008, 2009 and 2010 (the latest available) indicated in the table, Italy holds the top spot among the major supplier countries, followed by Germany.

Palestinian Territories
The Palestinian packaging and wrapping market is rather limited and reflects the limited volumes produced by the industry of that country. Some Palestinian companies (mostly private companies in the  food, paper and pharmaceuticals sector) have visited the great international machinery and materials fairs. In Palestine around 300 companies, mostly small, operate in the printing of packaging, a sector that represents about 1% of GDP; these are print works but also paper producing and converting concerns, which mainly use imported German machines.
The food sector, still to be developed, is growing: Official figures speak of over 1600 active companies. If we exclude the bakeries, the actual number is reduced to 224, divided between producers of meat, vegetables (fresh and frozen), oils and fats, dairy products, animal feed, chocolates and pastries, pasta, water and soft drinks, potato crisps, snacks.
Many companies have obtained ISO and HACCP certification and 95% of the food products meet Palestinian standards.
Many companies have also gained national PS and international HACCP certification as well as registered compliance to ISO 22000 standards. Overall investments in the food sector are estimated at 480 million dollars.
Six pharmaceutical companies operate In the West Bank, five of which are based in Ramallah. The industry mostly produces generic drugs, according to the Ministry register, while the market registers around 4500 pharmaceuticals available in pharmacies and hospitals.
The total number of employees in this sector is estimated at 1200 units. Strongly associational, the sector contributes less than 1% to the national GDP. 

The most important Jordanian
companies in the food sector
Philadelphia Chocolate Manufacturing Co.
(cioccolato e dolciumi locali)
P.O.Box 168 Sahab Ind. Zone, 11512 Sahab
Tel 00962 6 4023340 - [email protected]

Hijazi And Ghosheh Group - Al Marai Est. For Food Ind. (prodotti surgelati e conserve alimentari),
P.O.Box 183292, 11118 Amman
Tel 00962-6-4886155/166
[email protected] - www.hgg.com.jo

Nabil Factory For Food Products (carni
surgelate lavorate, hamburger e pizza)
P.O.Box 97 Amman - Sahab Ind. Estate,
11512 Sahab  - Tel 00962-6-4022004 [email protected]
nabilfoodproducts.com

The most important Palestinian
companies in the food sector

Sama Palestine for marketing food
Tel 00970-4-2439755 - Fax 00970-4-2439755
[email protected] - www.samapalestine.ps
 
Siniora Food Industries
Tel 00970-2-2796804  - Fax 00970-2-2799088
[email protected]
www.siniorafood.com

Al ARD Palestinian Agri products Co
Tel 00970-9-2348035 -  Fax 00970-9-2348436
[email protected]  www.anabtawigroup.com
 

www.ice.gov.it  The organisation ICE - Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies (under interim management) - has established a close collaboration with the magazine ItaliaImballaggio. ICE‘s network of overseas offices will provide a regular update on the development of packaging in the short/medium term in given countries. Under observation, as a priority, the area of the Mediterranean rim, the Middle East and India: a focus which aims to offer points of interest to Italian companies to develop business opportunities. For further information on the sector contact [email protected].