In response to a challenge put forward by his Majesty King Abdullah II in 1999, int@j directed its efforts at devising a comprehensive framework for Jordan's ICT sector, which resulted in the REACH initiative. REACH (1999–2004) is Jordan's national blueprint for nurturing a vibrant, export-oriented, and internationally competitive ICT sector. The strategy involved developing a regulatory framework, providing an enabling infrastructural environment, and offering advancement programs, Human Resource development and capital and finance. In 2007, int@j created the View National ICT Strategy 2007-2011 , which comes as a continuation of the REACH initiative and encompasses a number of revised policies and directions that are aimed at taking advantage of new markets, enhancing business maturity, investing in research & development, capitalizing on regional demand, cultivating foreign investment, and improving the ICT labor market.
The Strategy defines three high-level strategic objectives to be achieved by 2011, which involve increasing internet penetration in the Kingdom from the current 11% to 50%, raising the number of workers in the ICT industry from 16,000 to 35,000, and increasing the ICT sector's revenue to reach a value of $3 billion. The Strategy also focuses on eliminating regulatory challenges to business and advocating the interest of ICT companies to ensure continued sector growth.
The National ICT Strategy serves two basic goals. First, it identifies the sub-sectors that national ICT sector leadership will be best-suited for growth given the environment in Jordan. Thus, the strategy poses a challenge to which the private sector in the country and internationally must respond. Second, it defines actions that Government must take to do its part to facilitate ICT sector growth. Thus, the strategy also poses a mandate to which the Government must respond to execute its commitment to the sector.
Strategy Pillars
- Connectivity
- Research and Development
- Labor Issues and Education
- Regulation and Investment Climate