Information technology experts emphasized that the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II regarding the accelerated development and regulation of the legislative environment for startups serve as an advanced roadmap. These directives aim to strengthen the Kingdom's innovation ecosystem and drive the digital economy forward.
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Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), experts noted that supporting startups requires an integrated approach across several key pillars, starting with treating them as a legitimate economic sector rather than just a youth-focused file or scattered initiatives. They stressed the necessity of increasing the number of local investment funds and providing incentives for investors to enter the sector.
During his chairmanship of a meeting for the National Council for Future Technology, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince underscored the importance of swiftly developing the legislative environment for startups to empower youth and enhance their access to financing, particularly in the tech sector. He also highlighted the need to upgrade digital infrastructure, including improving internet services in schools across the Kingdom—especially in the governorates—to advance the educational process.
A Roadmap for Innovation
Eng. Haitham Al-Rawajbeh, representative of the ICT sector at the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Crown Prince’s directives represent a strategic leap in enabling youth to launch entrepreneurial ventures. He added that empowering startups serves as a primary lever for job creation and increases the digital sector's contribution to the GDP, while enhancing Jordan’s appeal for both local and foreign investments.
Al-Rawajbeh noted that the Chamber of Commerce places great importance on the ICT sector by supporting initiatives aimed at developing the digital business environment and fostering partnerships with government entities to ensure companies can grow and expand.
Flexibility and Global Competitiveness
Hossam Hammo, Founder and CEO of Tamatem Games—a leading mobile games publisher in the MENA region—explained that supporting startups requires a faster and more flexible legislative framework. He called for clear regulations regarding acquisitions and exits, transparent tax systems, and updated legislation concerning cryptocurrencies, banking systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to keep pace with global trends.
Hammo pointed out that access to early-stage financing remains a challenge, necessitating more local investment funds and effective business accelerators to reduce startup failure rates. He emphasized that Jordanian tech and gaming companies think regionally from day one, requiring policies that support international expansion through streamlined payment facilities and global partnerships.
From Ideas to Market Impact
Abdulrahman Al-Husami, CEO of Makana 360, argued that supporting startups begins by treating them as a "real economic sector." He stated that the goal is to build an environment that allows founders to test ideas and reach the market quickly.
"A successful startup ecosystem relies on four pillars: clear and flexible legislation, risk-tolerant early-stage financing, robust digital infrastructure, and a market capable of incubating these projects," Al-Husami added. He concluded that success in this file should not be measured by the number of initiatives, but by the number of companies that manage to survive, scale, create jobs, and attract investment. (Petra)
