Syrian refugee entrepreneur gets vital support to sustain manufacturing business
As Syrians were not yet granted work permits when Basil arrived in the country, he knew he had to become an entrepreneur if he were to survive. Ala’a Sabha, a Jordanian who was to become Basil’s business partner, first introduced him to the world of paper cup manufacturing. Ala’a and his brother were already running a successful printing business and recognised the opportunity to start manufacturing paper cups in Jordan.
“He had studied the market and I found the opportunity very promising. I decided to take on the challenge – especially since I didn’t have any other job opportunity at the time,” Basil says.
The partners started producing paper cups with two machines in 2013. Today the business, Al Haramein, produces a wide range of paper cups for hot and cold beverages at a facility with 32 production machines. Last year, the Nomou Jordan Fund (NJF) provided Al Haramein with financing to expand even further. The business was growing rapidly, sales were increasing, and it started exporting to neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Then COVID-19 struck.
Strict domestic lockdowns, the global economic slowdown, trade disruptions, and the suspension of international travel have placed severe pressure on Jordan’s economy and businesses like Al Haramein. According to the country’s Department of Statistics, GDP growth slowed to 1.3% in annual terms during the first quarter and then contracted by 3.6% in the second. The manufacturing sector also contracted by 5.3% in the second quarter.
Lockdown measures forced Al Haramein to close its factory for two weeks and it could only operate at minimal production capacity for almost three months. Coupled with border closures which affected exports, these measures severely impacted Al Haramein’s sales. The business also struggled to collect outstanding payments from its clients.
“The pandemic affected us in many ways including reduced mobility of employees and production halts. Sales and exports declined, while expenses associated with shipping and maintenance increased,” Basil explains.
The NJF granted Al Haramein a 3-month concession on its loan repayments to overcome the gap in its cashflow.
“This concession helped us balance our cash inflows and outflows more effectively in these difficult market conditions and to return to near-normal cash flow management in a shorter period,” Basil says.
GroFin Jordan’s advice to Al Haramein, in combination with the payment concession, helped the partners to better manage their cashflow. The business could maintain sufficient inventory levels without falling behind on its commitments to others. GroFin advised Al Haramein to switch to online transactions wherever possible online and to improve its ESG practices and health and safety measures amidst the pandemic.
Despite their challenges, it was important for the entrepreneurs to maintain their 75 employees. Ahmad Hamdan has been working as warehouse keeper at Al Haramein for two years. He supports seven people including his young children, mother, and sisters and says many people in his community have lost their jobs.
“I am very thankful that I was able to continue working and receive my salary especially as I have many commitments and I am the sole provider for my family.”
Basil says the emotional support GroFin provided them was also invaluable.“I was overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety and stress. GroFin followed up with us regularly to make sure we are addressing all key issues. We felt we had a real partner and not just a financier. We felt that we were not alone in our fight against the tough economic conditions.”
