ESIS Extension / Jordan / IS Promotional Activities / Update Memo 5

Following the IT Forum held in Jordan on March 24 and 25, and His Majesty King Abdullah’s initiative to make Jordan into a regional hub for information technology a number of activities utilizing information technology and promoting Information Society have taken place. These activities included a call for projects for "e-government and e-commerce", and Internet infrastructure. An important workshop took place on EUMEDIS – The European Mediterranean Information Society Initiative, a seminar on e-business was also held and a regional training course. Responding to the King’s initiative a number of international companies have decided to launch investment and training programs in Jordan to promote IT infrastructure, such as Sun Microsystems and IBM. Other activities in the promotion of IS focused on the education sector in introducing computers and IT to schools, the addition of new computers to the Amman Training Center and training programs by the public and private sector.

The Economic Consultative Council (ECC) of Jordan entrusted a technical committee in May, grouping Fadi Ghandour and Yussef Nassir, with laying down the groundwork for an e-project on the road to an "e-government and e-commerce" in line with the latest Information Technology systems.

Jordan’s Century Investment Group (CIG) plans to launch a $30 million venture capital fund for Arab entrepreneurs, CIG Chairman Omar Salah announced on Tuesday May 16. The fund, Crescent Capital Partners is raising venture capital money from the United States and the Middle East for "incubation projects", Internet infrastructure and existing successful companies and new economy companies in the Arab world. The Crescent fund also aims at becoming a distribution arm for major Internet and infrastructure companies seeking access to the Middle East.

The National Information Center held the first regional workshop on EUMEDIS - The European-Mediterranean Information Society Initiative on Monday June 26, and Tuesday June 27 at the Radisson/SAS Hotel in Amman Jordan. Representatives of institutions of the Mediterranean-European regional countries, and other organizations interested in participating in the suggested projects to be submitted to the European Union attended the workshop. The workshop included: presenting the Jordanian and regional projects which are to be presented to the initiative, and constructing and developing the efficiency of partnership in local and regional projects. Dr Yousef Mansour is the EUMEDIS focal point in Jordan.

The Specialized Technical Services (STS) Group, one of the leading IT professional services providers in Jordan, organized a seminar on e-business at the Jordan Inter-Continental Hotel on Monday May 8. Speakers from six leading international companies in the e-business arena gave presentations on the significance of e-business. Humam Mufti, GM of STS Group, introduced the speakers to the audience and stressed on the importance of introducing e-business in the country and the region. Aiman Mazahreh is the Executive Director at STS.

The Royal Scientific Society opened on April 10 a regional training course in Information Technology. The four-month course is held in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It aims to upgrade and introduce new skills to participants who are specialized in IT. The agenda consists of courses in UNIX, advanced system analysis, relational database management systems, database administration, database design, reliable design, capacity design, system performance, project management and networking administration.

Jordan Telecom has reiterated its commitment to provide more efficient and cost-effective services that could boost the long-sought development of the Kingdom’s information technology (IT) sector. The newly privatised company plans to become an Internet Service Provider (ISP) by early next year, stated the company Director General Shabib Ammari and CEO Pierre Mattei.

Sun Microsystems officials held two days of talks on June 10, & 11 with the government and the private sector on a three-phased information technology training program. Khaled Touqan, president of Blaqa Applied University and member of the Economic Consultative Council’s sub-committee stated that the first component could start as early as August. The first component includes training in e-commerce for 14 professionals from the private and public sectors. For the second component is the establishment of a training centre and geared to training trainers, the competition is between the University of Jordan and the Princess Sumaya University College for Technology to which Sun has already donated 16 stations where students can train in Sun technology and obtain certification.

The Jordanian government and IBM have reached an agreement on April 20 to develop an IT training program for graduates in Jordan. The parties have agreed to set up a joint task force immediately to put in place a detailed program, that will focus on helping graduates to develop a complete set of IT capabilities from basic IT skills to application and advanced web development. The agreement was made in Amman in a meeting between Prime Minister Abdel Al Raouf Al Rawabdeh and J. Michael Lawrie, general manager, IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Her Majesty Quenn Rania Al Abdullah received Citibank Jordan’s General Manager Suhair Al Ali who delivered a cheque of $35,000 in support of three technology labs for the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) to cater to underprivileged children. The Citibank – JRF pilot project, which comes in recognition of the importance of computers and the Internet as a major educational tool in the 21st century is entitled "Child and Technology". Under this project, three technology labs funded by the Citigroup Foundation will be placed in three JRF Community Centres in various parts of the Kingdom.

As part of her nationwide initiative to introduce computers and Information Technology to schools, Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday May 24 distributed fully equipped computers to Umm Habiba Secondary School for Girls in Wadi Seer. The initiative involves working closely with the Ministry of Education and with teachers to incorporate classroom computer use and to harness the Internet as a research tool. It also envisions that teachers would be trained on the use of technology and that IT would be incorporated into the school curriculum. The 21 computers were personally donated by Samih Darawzeh former Minister of Energy and present head of Hikma Pharmaceuticals, who responded to the Queen’s call to involve the private sector in the initiative, which is aimed at empowering the next generation of Jordanian students to meet the challenges of new Millennium.

A US company is trying to tap into the Jordanian market to promote a novel Internet service that will provide non-English speaking users access to domain names in their own language. World Access Liaison International Domains (WALID), an incorporated US company that provides international domain name registration services, expects to register domain names in 76 languages to non-English speaking potential on-line users by year’s end. Walid Tout chief operating officer of WALID told the Jordan Times on the sidelines of a press conference held on Sunday June 4, that they aim to promote and educate people, companies, organizations, government agencies, Internet providers about the availability of the service that provides a solution to non-English speaking users.

MobileCom, Jordan’s mobile communications operator, announced an agreement with the Princess Sumaya University College for Technology that will see students receiving technical training and hands-on experience form MobileCom, paving the way for students who are looking for an exciting career at MobileCom. The agreement is the first of its kind in Jordan, while MobileCom plans to extend the same agreement to several universities in Jordan, while MobileCom plans to extend the same agreement to several universities in Jordan, ensuring that and increased transfer of knowledge and skills is accomplished. MobileCom and the University will work together on organizing information and recruitment events, creating specialized seminars and workshops for the future and arranging students’ visits to MobileCom premises as well as offering internships to undergraduate students to build up their skills during the education process.

A 26-PC lab at the Amman Training Centre was inaugurated on Tuesday May 9, by the US Ambassador to Jordan, William Burns. The computers at the lab were funded with an American grant of $1 million. Students at the training center have a better chance to be e-proficient with a new computer network lab equipped with high-tech machines installed in their center. After functioning for 28 years the Amman Training Center run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency still provides services to beneficiaries of Palestinian refugee students.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.