Page 49 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

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Amazon Officially Enters Pakistan with Web Services

Having registered a local office under the name Amazon Data role focuses on removing regulatory and political blockers to
Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, Amazon is forming a team for Amazon cloud adoption. This is a common approach among technology
Web Services (AWS) in Pakistan, to drive the adoption of cloud companies when entering small markets, with Bytedance doing
computing. The move comes two weeks after the technology the same in June by hiring Hassan Arshad as the head of public
company experienced a disruption worldwide, which largely policy to work with the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority
impacted parts of the US and Pakistan as a whole. According (PTA) to stall a ban of the TikTok app. As for AWS in Pakistan, the
to the SECP database, the Pakistan office is led by Paul Andrew “Framework on IT Governance and Risk Management in Financial
Macpherson as the CEO while Shoaib Munir is a Director along with Institutions” by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) directed banks
Macpherson. Speaking to Profit under the condition of anonymity, to utilize cloud computing technology under the condition that
a spokesperson from Amazon shared that the technology leader systems and service providers shall be located in Pakistan along
is currently seeking a public policy specialist for Pakistan, with with all physical servers and services. Under this rule, AWS would
a focus on driving AWS cloud computing solution adoption. The need to set up its own data center and cloud server in the country.
According to the e-commerce policy framework of Pakistan, the
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication are in
the process of formulating Pakistan’s first cloud policy, while the
Draft Data Protection Act is at an advanced stage of consultations.
The latter draft, which also concerns Amazon, addresses issues
concerning data protection in e-commerce. AWS hopes to work
with relevant government departments in Pakistan as they develop
and revise policies related to the digital economy, including
cloud-first policies, data protection regulations, outsourcing
guidelines, Cybersecurity policies, tax policy, and over the top
regulations. They will also proactively build relationships with key
policymakers, politicians, and influencers.

EU and Orange Jordan to Create the Innovation Space Project in Jordan

The European Union and Orange Jordan nascent digital economy and innovation We also strongly believe that innovation
signed a €7.3 million agreement to create culture mature. The project also aims at and a digital economy can help alleviate
a new Innovation Space that promotes boosting social inclusion, with a special the socio-economic consequences of the
private sector-led innovation and digital attention to women and youth. Twenty- COVID19 crisis." CEO of Orange Jordan
economy in Jordan. The EU-funded three digital centers across Jordan will Thierry Marigny said: "We are proud of our
Innovation Space is a pioneering initiative be renovated or established, as well as partnership with the European Union for
in Jordan and a one-stop-shop for digital five new coding academies, five new such an important project that will promote
innovation and entrepreneurial support. It FabLabs, five new BIG (Start-ups' Growth innovation and support entrepreneurship
will introduce digital culture to the wider Accelerators) , three new incubators to accelerate economic progress, this is
Jordanian public, foster digital skills, across the country and an aggregating a stepping stone towards digitalizing the
especially among women and youth, and Innovation Hub at Orange Digital Village economy, which is consistent with Orange
promote and nurture entrepreneurship by in Eastern Amman . EU Ambassador Jordan's strategy". Marigny added: "We are
identifying key opportunities for digital to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou said, happy that this collaboration will enable the
economic growth. The Innovation Space "I am delighted to launch this new expansion of our current programs leading
is co-funded by the European Union's project with Orange Jordan to support to the maximization of positive impact
"Innovation for Enterprise Growth and digitalization and innovation, which will on society in terms of quality, number of
Jobs" program, also known as Innovate boost economic growth and job creation. beneficiaries and wider footprint in the
Jordan. The Innovation Space will utilize Through this initiative, we will invest in Jordanian governorates". It is worth noting
and expand existing digital centers young entrepreneurs and innovators with that the execution of this 3-year project
affiliated with Orange Jordan, to catalyze cutting-edge ideas, whilst also supporting will start this year.
investments to ensure that Jordan's digital innovation education and skills.

49 AUGUST 2020