For this episode, host Nick Newsom is in Jordan - a country recognised as a global GovTech leader, and whose monarch, King Abdallah II, has ambitions to turn it into a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Amjad Swais, chair of the trade body representing Jordan’s tech sector, Intaj, tells us how the government is using tech in its efforts to counter high youth unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and significant pressure on public services.

Episode overview

02:40 - Jordan's digital infrastructure

06:34 - IT outsourcing in Jordan

09:25 - Moving toward exporting tech

12:38 - Incentivising R&D

17:19 - Making education serve labour market needs

20:43 - Overview of GovTech in Jordan

24:27 - The private sector's role in service re-engineering and digitisation

26:50 - Improving government IT service procurement

32:42 - Strengthening product management in government digital transformation

35:19 - Overcoming resistance to change

38:24 - Government AI readiness

39:53 - Where AI can add most value in government

44:04 - The focus on the MENA ICT Forum 2024

Further reading

Economic Modernisation Vision, Government of Jordan

Why digital transformation projects fail and the path to success, Intaj CEO Nidal Bitar in The Jordan Times

Empowering graduates, strengthening companies, Nidal Bitar in The Jordan Times

GovTech Case Studies: Solutions that Work Jordan: The SANAD Portal for Digital Government Services, World Bank

Jordan's Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Implementation Plan, Jordan Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship

Jordan’s AI policy journey: Bridging vision and implementation, Oxford Insights

Government AI Readiness Index 2023, Oxford Insights

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