Jordan's industrial sector lost 280 million U.S. dollars since the closure of Iraq's border, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Amman Chamber of Industry said the closure of Iraq's border with Jordan mid June led to the closure of 20 factories in Jordan and increased the suffering of the industrial sector.

Mid June, Iraq said it closed it borders with Jordan until further notice.

The chamber said hundreds of factories in Jordan operate at 70 per cent of their full capacity at present due to the borders closure.

It stressed the importance of the Iraqi market to the Jordanian industries,adding that Jordanian industries cannot enter the Iraqi market.

Factories laid off hundreds of employees due to the slow business, it said.

It urged the government to exert its utmost efforts to help reopen the Iraqi borders with Jordan.