New programmes strive to assist Jordanian IT start-ups — ministry

AMMAN — The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday revealed plans set to empower Jordanian IT start-ups and entrepreneurs to access world markets.

Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Muthana Gharaibeh, during a press conference attended by supporters including the World Bank (WB), American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan) and the UK Department for International Development, presented the programmes tailored for easing access to the world markets, as well as connecting IT start-ups and entrepreneurs with global financiers and investors.

The ministry is working on implementing the matchmaking programme, supported by the WB and the UK, which is intended to link Jordanian IT start-ups with potential investors, with focuses on the American, British and other European markets, Gharaibeh added.

Implemented by AmCham-Jordan and TECHWADI, the Silicon Valley programme aims to link 25 Jordanian startups with American companies in 2019, according to a ministry statement.   

Chairman of AmCham-Jordan's Board of Directors Mohammed Batayneh said that the chamber, a non-profit body, supports the efforts made to bolster the national economy through promoting Jordanian-American free trade and investments.

Meanwhile, the UK Scale-Up Programme will be implemented throughout the European market in cooperation with UK Tech Hub, with the participation of 25 start-ups that will be selected according to UK and American criteria, Gharaibeh added.

Additionally, a representative from the UK Tech Hub programme said that The Nucleus Ventures will help in accelerating the growth and expansion of IT start-ups.    

Deputy Director of the Department for International Development for the Middle East Laura Bophilos expressed the UK's support for the connecting programmes in the field of information and communications technology, pointing out that underpinning Jordanian entrepreneurs is a commitment of the London Initiative.