Amman, Jan. 30 (Petra)-- Japanese Ambassador to Jordan Asari Hideki sponsored the closing ceremony of the "NINJA – Next Innovation with Japan" project, held at Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The event brought together a wide range of participants, including representatives from the public and private sectors, business leaders, and local and international investors.

The ceremony was attended by HTU President Ismail Al-Hinti, a representative of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Abdulqader Al-Bataineh, and former Jordanian Ambassador to Japan Lina Annab. The event showcased the outcomes of the project’s program, which ran for several months and involved 10 Jordanian startups that successfully completed the implementation phase.

The participating startups achieved a direct impact on more than 7,500 beneficiaries from diverse groups, including youth, women, and underprivileged communities, through intensive capacity-building programs, specialized mentoring, and technical and operational support.

During the event, the startups presented their business models to a specialized judging panel, highlighting the social and economic impact of their projects, as well as their future growth and expansion plans.

In his remarks, Ambassador Asari reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting inclusive and sustainable growth pathways in Jordan through innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of empowering youth, women, and underprivileged groups, noting the ability of the participating companies to transform challenges into innovative, high-impact solutions. He also expressed hope for enhanced cooperation between Jordanian startups and the Japanese market.

For his part, JICA’s Chief Representative in Jordan, Morihata Shingo, said the NINJA project reflects the agency’s commitment to supporting startup ecosystems and strengthening innovation as a pathway to sustainable and inclusive economic opportunities. He added that the results achieved underscore the capacity of Jordanian startups to develop impactful local solutions with strong growth potential.

Meanwhile, Nader Naemeh, Chairman of Migreat, the project’s implementing partner in Jordan, said the event marks a transitional milestone for the participating startups as they move into new stages of development, while opening doors for networking and partnership-building with investors and the private sector.

The ceremony also featured specialized networking sessions aimed at building partnerships, alongside presentations of success stories and achieved impact, in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors.

Hassan Zaabalawi, founder and CEO of Tech-Care, which won first place, said participation in the NINJA project helped refine the company’s technological solution, align it with market needs, and strengthen its social impact, paving the way for regional expansion, particularly in the healthcare sector.

Launched in 2020 with support from JICA, the "NINJA – Next Innovation with Japan" project aims to support and develop startup ecosystems in developing countries by building capacities, providing incubation, and enabling social and economic innovation to help create inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities.

//Petra// MF