Sep 2010

Jordan’s ICT Sector
 Driven by His Majesty’s vision
 Started back in 1999 (REACH Initiative)
 5 year National ICT Strategy for a strong industry (2007-2011)
• On the ground international companies (Cisco, Microsoft,
Oracle, HP, Yahoo, Intel, Motorola, Ericsson)
• Fastest growing sector in Jordan's economy (Avg. 25% growth)
• More than 80,000 jobs in total (direct/indirect/induced)
• Contribution of 14% to GDP (10% direct, 4% indirect)

Sector Landscape
• ICT Sector includes 442 companies (2009)
$40m
$210m
$130m
$685m
$170m
$895m
$673m
$1.3b
IT Export
Revenue
IT Domestic
Revenue
IT Total Revenue
-
-
Source:
Telecom: Arab Advisors Group
IT: int@j Industry Classification and Statistics
2001 2009
Telecom
Revenue
$843m
ICT Total
Revenue
$2.2b

Major Companies Activities
ISIC
5820 Software publishing
Companies Activities
ISIC Activity
6201 Computer programming activities
6202 Computer consultancy and computer facilities management
6312 Web portals
Total
41
137
36
47

Non Value
Added
45% Value
Added
55%
Domestic USD 685m
Non Value
Added
12%
Exports USD 210m
Value
Added
88%

ICT Sector Exports
• Exporting to more than 45 countries
• Major Export Markets
– USA $48m (22%)
– Saudi Arabia $47m (21%)
– Iraq $29m (13%)
– UAE $16m (7%)
– Palestine $9m (4%)
 Major Exports
– Software Development
– ITO and BPO Outsourcing
– Interactive Media and animation
– Graphic and Web Design
– Mobile Applications Development

ICT Impact on Economy
• ICT Impact on Employment is 84,154 Jobs
• ICT Impact on GDP is 14.1%
6%
5%
4%
3%
10%
9%
8%
7%
9,5%
2%
1%
0,7%
0.8%
0,1% 0,1%
0%
ICT Sector Education
Sector
Manufactring
Sector
Health Sector Financial
Services
Sector
Source: 2009/2010 ICT Economic Impact Assessment - MoICT
2,7%
0,3%
Wholesale and Trade
Sector
Other Sectors

Importance of ICT
 Ensure rapid growth as it involves low capital costs and the principal inputs to ICT production are human resources.
 Serve as a major driver for overall economic growth
 Improve public services, and encourage governmental improvements
 Improve growth in all business sectors regardless of size and regardless of the country’s stage of development
 Reduce income inequality and poverty
 Improve health and education services
 Enhance social inclusion
Jordan’s National Agenda acknowledges the role of ICT in transforming the society and sets goals to facilitate improvement, among which is;
 Promoting the use of IT applications to develop the socio-economic climate.

Opportunities
E-Learning:
 Jordan Education Initiative
 ICT as a tool in education reform
 Local firms delivering world-class products
– ITG - EduWave Platform, World Summit Award Winner
– Rubicon, Math Curricula with Cisco
– Menhaj, IT Curricula with Microsoft
 Model to be replicated

Opportunities
E-Health:
 Electronic Health Solutions Royal Initiative
 Based on VistA
 In partnership with Dell/Perot Systems
 Pilot in 3 Public Hospitals
 Model to build on and replicate in other countries

Opportunities
Telecommunications:
 Liberalized Telecom Sector
– Liberalized mobile telephone subsector
– Liberalized fixed line subsector
 Independent regulator – TRC
 Licensed WiMAX & 3G Infrastructure
 More than 6 million mobile phone subscribers

Opportunities
Business Process Outsourcing:
 9 th globally in AT. Kearny Global Services Location Index (2009)
 Availability of necessary ingredients
– Manpower and human talent
– The “right” Arabic and English dialect
– An alternative destination
– The right telecom infrastructure
– The investment climate
– The political and economic stability

Online Content and Gaming
 1% Arabic content in the world – Jordan is the largest contributor
 Neutral Arabic speaking community
 Mobile:
– Applications, Games, and Content
• Multiplatform applications, content, and games (including iPhone and Blackberry)
 Online
– Applications and Gaming Solutions (example online payment)
– Communities (example web forums, football sites)
– Media and Content (example Online Newspapers, social media, and directories)