Jordan - National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce

Intel Corporation: Helping to Realize Jordan’sPotentialIntel Corporation, the world’s largest chipmaker, hasmade significant investments in Jordan in recent yearsas a result of the Hashemite Kingdom’s strong commitmentto information technology (IT). Intel offers thelatest technology solutions to multinational companies,local systems integrators, and independent softwareproviders.“Intel stronglybelieves in the needto spread the use ofIT in cross-sectionsof society to helpcountries achieve aknowledge-basedeconomy andcompete at the globallevel,” says AbdulJarrar, Intel’sRegional GovernmentAffairsManager for theMiddle East, Turkey,and Africa. “In viewof that, we supportJordan’s IT initiativesand want tocontinue workingwith the Jordaniangovernment to play a key role in enabling this transformationthroughout the Kingdom.”Intel’s first “Teach to the Future” program in theMiddle East was established in Jordan in 2003. To date,more than 15,000 teachers in Jordan have been trainedas part of this program, a worldwide effort to help bothexperienced teachers and pre-service teachers integratetechnology into instruction. Participating teachers receiveextensive instruction and resources to promote effectivetechnology use in the classroom.Launched in 2000, the “Teach to the Future” programhas trained more than one million classroom teachersin 30 countries, and this number is expected to rise totwo million teachers by the end of 2005.Intel is also about to open the second Intel ComputerClubhouse in Jordan. At the Clubhouse, underservedyouth have access to high-tech equipment and mentorsin order to develop skills that encourage self-confidenceand foster creativity and opportunities.In 2002, when Intel CEO Craig Barrett gave thekeynote address at the Jordan ICT Forum, Barrettinaugurated an Internet Laboratory (I-Lab) at theUniversity of Jordan. The first I-Lab in the Arab world,it forms part of the University’s King Abdullah II Collegeof Information Technology.The I-Lab provides an academic forum to test andevaluate new entrepreneurial business models and theirtechnical implementation with the assistance of Internettechnologies and high-tech solutions. The I-Lab alsoprovides a research and development environment forareas such as simulation, content translation and localizationinto the Arabic language, image processing,Craig Barrett , CEO of Intel Corporation, during his keynote speech at IDF Spring 2004 in San Francisco.voice recognition, and multimedia.”We thank Intel Corporation for its contributionand the support of all involved,” noted Dr. Ahmad AlJaber, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technologyat the College. “We want to create an incubator whereacademic staff can provide the support for start-upcompanies and innovative business and research ideas.We are really looking forward to a long, fruitful andcontinuous relationship with Intel.”Barrett concluded his 2002 visit on a cautionarynote: “Jordan is taking the right steps towards creatingits digital future, but long-term economic prosperitywill require new approaches to business and technologyinnovation,” he said in a speech to government andbusiness leaders. “Jordan should accelerate its investmentin the Internet, reduce taxes and tariffs on informationtechnology (IT) products, foster entrepreneurs, protectintellectual property, and build a strong educationalfoundation that trains the workforce tomorrow.”“In the digital future, people will access the Webany time and any place with devices and infrastructurethat offer both computing and communication capabilities,”Barrett said at the time. “Countries that intendto successfully compete in tomorrow’s global digitaleconomy will move fast to invest in education andinformation technology and let both flourish.” ✦The Teach to theFuture programhas trained morethan one millionclassroom teachersin 30 countries,and this numberis expected to riseto two millionteachers by theend of 2005.November/ December 2004 • US-Arab Tradeline 11