Jordan Times
Friday, March 12, 2004
JUSBP ready to help furniture manufacturers' export to US
AMMAN (JT) — Opportunities and challenges in exporting furniture to the US were discussed this week between several Jordanian furniture manufacturers and key people from the USAID-funded project, the Jordan-United States Business Partnership (JUSBP).The JUSBP initiative to help the furniture sector with its lackluster exports to the US includes preparations of individual evaluation reports for the firms that participated and feedback on appropriate recommendations to be taken, a seminar on US market requirements, and tasking a US consultant to identify US market opportunities.
JUSBP Vice President Nayef Stetieh said: “The potential to export Jordanian furniture to the US is great and the JUSBP will provide the necessary firm level assistance needed to enhance the export capabilities.”
Allaying concerns of sceptics, Stetieh gave examples of several JUSBP clients in the stone and marble sector, and Dead Sea product sector that were able to successfully penetrate the US market due to JUSBP's help.
In an overview on the benefits to be gained from the Jordan-US Free Trade Agreement, Rassim Abdul Rahim, an international trade specialist, stressed the importance of adhering and learning about environmental laws governing Jordanian furniture entry to the US.
Abdul Rahim also emphasised the role of intellectual property rights in furniture design and the importance of product safety standards.
“Exporting furniture to the US is possible — it's a vast and accommodating market,” he indicated.
The trade specialist advised the manufacturers to “focus on niche markets and speciality distribution channels where Jordanian furniture can be more competitive.”
Some of the manufacturers expressed their concerns and difficulties encountered regarding exporting to the US.
Many challenges common to all those who attended the discussion group were the lack of specialised consultants able to conduct market research, poor knowledge of intricacies involved with US custom requirements, high shipping and marketing costs, lack of sector cooperation and shortage of qualified labour.