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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