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 focused on developing a supportive regulatory framework, providing an enabling infrastructural environment, offering advancement programs to the industry, availing capital and finance, and carrying out human resources development initiatives.
The REACH initiative’s continuation and int@j's leading initiative; the National ICT Strategy (NIS), was created in support of the Kingdom's proactive efforts to improve its citizens' living standards through the National Agenda. The reformed strategy (2007 - 2011) headed by int@j encompasses a number of revised policies and directions that aim at taking advantage of new markets, enhancing business maturity, investing in research & development, capitalizing on regional demand, cultivating foreign investments, and improving the ICT labor market. Accordingly, the strategy defines three high-level strategic objectives to be achieved by 2011:
-Increase internet penetration in the Kingdom from the current 11% to 50%
-Increase the number of workers in the ICT industry from 16,000 to 35,000
-Increase revenues by threefold to reach $3 billion
As with REACH, the NIS continues to focus significantly on eliminating regulatory challenges by advocating for and on behalf of the private sector to maintain a legislative environment that fosters growth and advancement. The cumulative impacts of these two int@j-led economic development initiatives positioned Jordan as one of the region's most open economies to trade and foreign participation, a positive impact not only affecting ICT and ICTES, but virtually all other economic sectors alike. Additional unique attributes such as an enhanced ICT education system, well-enforced intellectual property rights legislation, and a flourishing business environment strengthened Jordan’s position and attracted many of the industry's major players, such as Microsoft, Intel, Cisco Systems, Oracle, and France Telecom.
Strategy Pillars:
-Connectivity
-Research and Development
-Labor Issues and Education
-Regulation and Investment Climate
View National ICT Strategy 2007-2011
