COUNTRY FOCUS : JORDAN
Jordan has a favourable geographic location in the centre of Middle East , has good relations with countries in the region , and provides opportunities to leverage Jordan for regional markets .
Providing access to regional IC
View of modern buildings in Amman , Jordan
The Information Communications and Technology , ICT sector in Jordan is one of the fastest growing sectors in Jordan ’ s economy , accounting for 3.8 % of gross GDP with total annual revenue exceeding $ 2.3 billion . Despite the challenging economic environment , the ICT sector continues to stand as one of Jordan ’ s greatest strengths , witnessing growth of 6 % during the pandemic .
Digital transformation is a top priority , with a move towards e-government services . Additionally , technological innovation is also an area of focus as the country is taking measures to position itself as a regional digital hub .
Jordan is considered to have a high rate of entrepreneurship initiatives compared to other countries in the region and enjoys the availability of affordable technical talent , geopolitical stability , good infrastructure , a liberalised telecom sector , proximity to key regional markets , and government support .
There are more than 900 active companies in the sector that directly employ about 26,000 employees . With Jordan ’ s population representing 3 % of the MENA region , it constitutes 27 % of the region ’ s technology entrepreneurs . Jordan now ranks 49th on the Global
Entrepreneurship Index , GEI and has more than 25 business incubators , accelerators , and creative centres . It is estimated that 98 % of ICT companies in Jordan are SMEs .
Jordan is taking positive steps in the field of cybersecurity , ranking 71st out of 193 participating countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index , GCI . In 2019 , the Cybersecurity Law was enacted , providing a blueprint for the country ’ s cyber-defence capabilities , including the establishment of a National Cybersecurity Council and a National Centre for Cybersecurity . 5G is currently an area of focus with the government recently signing agreements with telecom operators to introduce 5G services by 2024 .
Opportunities in ICT sector
Access to markets
Jordanian ICT companies , including SMEs , face almost no cultural or language barriers entering neighbouring Arab markets . Jordan has a strong strategic geographic location in the centre of the Middle East and has good relations with countries in the region . This indicates good opportunities to leverage Jordan as a platform to access regional markets .
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