The Information and Communication Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) has announced holding the 9th edition of the premier ICT industry event of the Middle East and North Africa region: MENA ICT Forum 2022 on November 16 and 17 at the Dead Sea.
During a meeting held on Wednesday to highlight the importance of this forum, Int@j made this announcement with the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Economy & Entrepreneurship Samira Al Zu’bi along with the attendance of several ambassadors to the Kingdom, commercial attachés, and Int@j’s members.
“Holding the forum this year comes after the end of the COVID pandemic,” said Eid Amjad Sweis, Int@j’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, noting that int@j has been keen on organizing and conducting the forum once every two years since its inception.
Sweis stressed that the forum aims to highlight the role of Jordan’s ICT sector and entrepreneurship to regional and international decision makers from the public and private sectors, while also promoting Jordan as a regional digital hub.
The forum will include an exhibition with pavilions for local, Arab, and international companies, along with national pavilions for companies from the region and across to globe, said Sweis, adding that such gathering would enable foreign companies to connect with their Jordanian counterparts by showcasing their products and business solutions offered for various sectors.
Sweis also referred to the forum’s aim of addressing the role of technology in solving the pressing global challenges facing several nations, especially in the aftermath of the drastic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As for the key topics scheduled for discussion during the sessions of the two-day forum, they mainly include artificial intelligence, FinTech, smart industries, blockchain, and Metaverse, according to Sweis.
The forum will also feature interactive and inspirational sessions and workshops, constituting a space for regional and international entrepreneurs and start-ups to upskill a wide range of business skills needed to accelerate the growth of their enterprises, the chairman noted.
Int@j Board Member Ruba Darwish said that the forum will host a number of speakers from across the globe, most notably are Professor Renée Mauborgne, co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy, and Dr. Omar Hatamleh, co-author of BetweenBrains.ai and former Chief Innovation Officer of Engineering at NASA.
She added that the forum will witness the participation of a diverse audience from around the world, particularly investors, representatives of investment funds, the government sector, entrepreneurs, start-ups, policymakers, ICT specialists, academics, researchers, and capital owners.
For his part, Int@j CEO Nidal Bitar said the forum will discuss the latest industrial developments and how they can be leveraged at individual and institutional levels. The forum will also serve as an opportunity to engage in social networking and events to expand and foster business relations, Bitar said, indicating that it also widens the perception of how technology is affecting businesses, societies, and our lives in general across all vital sectors.
