Tuesday, the representative of the clothing, shoes, fabrics, and jewelry sector at the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Asaad Al-Qawasmi, said that the sector has lost all shopping and buying seasons since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last March, due to closures and periods of curfew.

In press statements, Al-Qawasmi said that the sector has suffered high financial losses due to the decline in the purchasing power of citizens, the accumulation of goods, the decline in sales, operating costs, workers' wages, expenses and other obligations.

He added that the Kingdom's imports of clothes, shoes and textiles fell last year by 18 percent, down to JD 195 million, compared to JD 232 million in 2019.

He ruled out that the return of students to their schools would have any effect on the sales activities of the clothing, shoes and fabrics sector, especially in terms of purchasing school uniforms, shoes and bags.

He pointed out that the sector's sales were clearly affected by the stopping of face-education in schools since the beginning of the first semester, especially because many establishments within this sector provided most of the equipment for students, including school uniforms, shoes, bags and other supplies.

Al-Qawasmi indicated that the sector's facilities and stores are committed to safety and health measures related to combating the coronavirus.

He renewed his demand to grant the apparel, shoes and fabrics sector some relief, including the reduction of several taxes, and reaching a compromise between owners and building owners regarding rents for periods of downtime in the interest of both parties.

Notably, the majority of Jordan's imports of clothes, shoes and fabrics come from Turkey and China, along with several other Arab, European and Asian countries.

The sector, which employs 56,000 workers, the majority of whom are Jordanians, includes 11,000 establishments operating in various regions of the Kingdom.