Amman:Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smeirat, concluded the Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Economic Development and Employment in Jordan Project, implemented in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), during the "New Horizons 2026" event.
According to Jordan News Agency, the event, held at the University of Jordan Academy in Amman, aimed to foster growth opportunities and business sustainability for startups by facilitating networking with investors and potential business partners, as well as exploring new commercial and investment prospects.
This initiative, launched in 2022, supported 697 startups, with 427 led by women. Beneficiary companies reported the creation of 748 decent job opportunities and 350 firms confirmed business growth. The project was co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, aligning with the National Entrepreneurship Policy (2021-2027) to enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem, access to finance, and market facilitation.
Sami Smeirat emphasized the importance of supporting entrepreneurship to stimulate private sector growth, create job opportunities, and enhance the contribution of entrepreneurial ventures to the national economy. He advocated for continued collaboration to ensure the sustainability of startups and their access to new markets.
Anne Laure Roche-Rault, from the European Union Delegation to Jordan, noted that the project strengthened the local entrepreneurship ecosystem through support networks in regions like Aqaba and the northern areas, facilitating cooperation among various sectors. She highlighted achievements such as the "Angel Investors Club for Women" and the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for entrepreneurship interventions.
Sönke Lorenz, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Jordan, pointed out the event's role in building on the project's outcomes by encouraging direct engagement between startups and the private sector, which supports the National Entrepreneurship Policy and the Economic Modernization Vision.