Page 25 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Orange Jordan and Int@j Meet with Advisory Committee to Discuss
Jordanian Startups Map

Orange Jordan and the Information and discussed via Zoom results of the first that includes a comprehensive database
Communications Technology Association phase of the study, as more than 350 of Jordanian startups, based on the stages
of Jordan (Int@j) held a second meeting startups from different sectors applied. The they reached. The map will provide main
with the advisory committee to discuss the committee is comprised of Orange Jordan, sectors that include sub-sectors following
Jordanian Startups Map, a study carried by the Crown Prince Foundation, the Ministry international standards to define and
int@j and StartupsJo, on behalf of Orange of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, categorize startups locally and globally
Jordan’s "Innovation Space" project the Ministry of Planning and International and shed light on sectors with promising
funded by the European Union through the Cooperation, the Ministry of Youth, the opportunities and high demand. The plan
“Innovate Jordan” Program, to promote Innovative Startups and SMEs Fund (ISSF) is to conduct a periodic review to enhance
youth entrepreneurship in the kingdom. In and the Jordan Investment Commission. startups' contribution to socio-economic
line with preventive measures taken to curb The study will be conducted over three development. By supporting this study,
the spread of COVID-19, the committee months in different stages to draw a map Orange Jordan, the responsible digital
leader and the kingdom’s digital partner,
seeks to develop entrepreneurship, a
pillar of its corporate social responsibility
strategy. The company is building on a
previous study conducted in partnership
with Int@j to provide insights into the
entrepreneurship industry, its impact on
the kingdom and its role in the national
economy. The company said that these
studies aim at shedding light on the
entrepreneurship culture in the kingdom
to explore the areas that will pave the
way for more successful startups. Orange
Jordan is committed to supporting
entrepreneurship projects and initiatives,
mainly through Business Innovation
Growth (BIG) by Orange, which is about to
launch its 8th season.

Orange Jordan, Intaj Map Jordanian Startups

Orange Jordan and the Information and be Jordan-based or provide proprietary Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship,
Communications Technology Association productions and solutions, among other the Ministry of Planning and International
of Jordan (Int@j) have published the requirements including stage of maturity Cooperation, the Ministry of Youth,
findings of a study mapping Jordanian and registration status. The study found in addition to the Innovative Startups
startups. During the three-month study, that 57 percent of all eligible startups and SMEs Fund and the Investment
275 startups were classified into 21 are centered in 5 main sectors. It also Commission. The study will pave the way
major sectors, including as e-commerce, indicated that 60 percent of the enterprises for more successful Jordanian startups,
financial technology (Fintech), health are in growth stage while 25 percent are especially when understanding the
technology, gaming, agricultural viable projects while the rest are still in entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Kingdom
technology, cybersecurity, artificial the ideation stage. Furthermore, the study and the main sectors that have future
intelligence, and others. The study is revealed that female presence in startups opportunities for growth and expansion.
part of efforts exerted to strengthen and amounted to 40 percent, while 35 of these The results of the study were released
upgrade the entrepreneurship ecosystem startups have joined a business incubator by Intaj and StartupsJo (Startup Council)
and landscape in the Kingdom. It will be or accelerator. Intaj was able to produce the on behalf of the EU-funded "Innovation
updated periodically and made available mapping with the support of Orange Jordan Space" project, a pioneering initiative in
through Intaj website. To be added to the and an advisory committee made up of the Jordan and a one-stop-shop for digital
study, Intaj said eligible startups must Crown Prince Foundation, the Ministry of innovation and entrepreneurial support.

25 FEB-MAR 2021