Jordan - National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce

“Technologicaldevelopment,legislative change,and expansion ofthe capabilities ofhuman resourceshave all played a keyrole in convincingglobal andregional investorsthat investmentopportunities areavailable in ourdynamically growingmarket.”Dr. Fawaz Zu’bi, Jordan’sMinister of Information andCommunications TechnologyJordan ICT Forum: “A Global Meeting of the Mindsin the Heart of Digital Arabia”John Chambers of Cisco Systems Cites Explosion of ICT Use in the Arab WorldJordan recently staged its third Information andCommunications Technology (ICT) Forum, asuccessor to Forums that the Hashemite Kingdomhosted in 2000 and 2002. The September 14 & 15event, held on the shores of Jordan’s Dead Sea, focusedfor the first time on the regional ICT sector with a viewto consolidating the regional market, taking advantageof economies of scale, and promoting a more competitiveinvestment climate in the Arab world.“The Forum set the agenda for future developmentand growth of the region’s ICT market throughpromoting a path of a regional cooperation and synergy,”says Dr. Fawaz Zu’bi, Jordan’s Minister of Informationand Communications Technology. “Technologicaldevelopment, legislative change, and expansion of thecapabilities of human resources have all played a keyrole in convincing global and regional investors thatinvestment opportunities are available in our dynamicallygrowing market.”As if to underscore this point, John Chambers,President and CEO of Cisco Systems, noted that therehas been a 219 percent increase in Internet usage in theMiddle East during the period 2000 – 2004. Regionalleaders included Saudi Arabia (650 percent increase),Egypt (500 percent), Bahrain (389 percent), Qatar (320percent), and Jordan (273 percent). Chambers stressedthat future jobs will migrate to those nations with thebest educated work forces, the most supportive governments,the most reliable infrastructures, and the mostinnovative programs.Said Chambers: “The ICT market in this region isa dynamic and growing area, and I believe internationalenterprises recognize the value of the potential technologyopportunities available. I truly believe Jordan can playa key role in shaping the region’s critical technologyinfrastructure to create unprecedented growth, education,and productivity opportunities.”This year’s Forum drew more than 600 delegates fromaround the world and featured 40 speakers, includingH.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. The Hashemite Kingtouted the many advantages of Jordan as an ICT hub,but he admonished the Arab world against resting on itslaurels. “As we move forward, the world moves faster,”he said, noting that the Middle East and North Africa(MENA) region is responsible for just 1.5 percent of worldexports and that only one out of three citizens in theregion is able to find local employment.Jordan used this year’s Forum to launch the NationalICT Policy and Strategy, inaugurate Jordan’s NationalBroadband Network, draw attention to Jordan’s e-Governmentprogram, announce the privatization of Jordan’s postalservice, and highlight an important new initiative to increasePC penetration and Internet uptake in Jordan.At the Forum, the Information Technology Associationof Jordan (int@j) announced that Jordan’s ICT sectorachieved 30 percent growth in revenues during the pastyear, with a particular increase in national exports.According to Int@j, domestic revenues of theKingdom’s ICT sector topped $226 million, achievinga growth of 20 percent compared to 2002. As for exportrevenues, they achieved 74 percent growth, reachingnearly $70 million. Total revenues for the ICT sectorhit $295 million, achieving a 30 percent growth incomparison with 2002.“Over the last few years, the ICT sector in Jordanhas succeeded in positioning itself among the leadingand fastest growing markets in the region; the resultsof our exports are further proof of the capabilities ofthis dynamic sector in sharing its expertise and solutionswith regional and international markets,” noted MarwanJuma, Chairman of int@j. “The development and thegrowth of the ICT sector has played a crucial role increating new job opportunities and has been one of thekey contributors in the growth of other sectors.” ✦Marketing ICT and Extending Jordan’s REACHTwo years ago, Craig Barrett, President & CEO ofIntel Corporation, noted that Jordan has “set aprecedent for change in the Middle East region. It hasdemonstrated the achievements that can result fromstrong cooperation between the public and privatesectors, particularly in the field of information andcommunications technology (ICT).”This is high praise from one of the world’s ICTpioneers. But it wasn’t always this way. A decade ago,Jordan’s Information Technology (IT) sector was virtuallynon-existent. Then came the REACH Initiative.8 November/ December 2004 • US-Arab Tradeline“For private firms, it was easy to blame governmentbureaucracy for lack of growth in the IT sector. Wewere given the opportunity to identify those obstaclesand suggest solutions to overcome them,” says KarimKawar, Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States, whowas one of the driving forces behind the REACH initiative.“Some saw it as a major challenge, to get fiercecompetitors to sit in the same room and discuss thefuture of this nascent industry. Some of us saw it as agreat opportunity!”continued on next page