ICT
From The Report: Jordan 2016
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Technological transformation and supportive state policies have led to 15 years of rapid growth in the kingdom’s ICT sector, now among the largest in its economy. Liberalisation in the 1990s and early 2000s made its telecoms industry one of the most open in the MENA region, but in recent years both telecoms and IT growth have suffered as a result of slowing macroeconomic growth, weakening global and domestic demand, and, in the telecoms sector, a high tax environment. Recognising the challenges facing the sector, the government has unveiled a host of new policies aimed at returning growth to pre-2009 levels. On the IT side, a new 10-year roadmap, REACH 2025, will help bolster competitiveness, human resource development, access to finance, investor incentives and Jordan’s IT export development.

This chapter contains an interview with Majd Shweikeh, Minister of ICT.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Building on success: A new sector roadmap to drive growth in the near future
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Technological transformation and supportive state policies have led to 15 years of rapid growth in the kingdom’s ICT sector, now among the largest in its economy. Liberalisation in the 1990s and early 2000s made its telecoms industry one of the most open in the MENA region, but in recent years both telecoms and IT growth have suffered as a result of slowing macroeconomic growth, weakening global and domestic demand, and, in the telecoms sector, a high tax environment. Recognising the challenges…

Analysis

Ahead of the game: Tech start-ups are benefitting from public and private sector support, making entrepreneurs well positioned for future growth
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Jordan’s start-up sector is poised for major growth in the coming years, with the kingdom standing as one of the largest and most dynamic tech hubs in the MENA region, supported by government policy and, increasingly, private sector investment into tech entrepreneurship. Landscape Jordan has more than 600 tech companies, more than any Arab country, of which more than 300 are start-ups, according to a December 2015 report by Asian Century Institute. Active across a host of sectors, including software…

Interview

Opportunity for all: OBG talks to Majd Shweikeh, Minister of ICT
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Interview:Majd Shweikeh How is strategy being developed to guarantee data protection and advance cybersecurity? MAJD SHWEIKEH: In 2012 the government of Jordan passed the National Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Strategy with the objective of providing a structure that involves and empowers all concerned entities to more effectively secure computer networks, and to operate, control and interact with such networks. In addition, the step is aimed at strengthening Jordan’s ICT infrastructure…