Amman, May 20 (Petra) – The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) has announced the approval of a joint project between Jordan and the Sultanate of Oman under the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), aimed at strengthening digital support frameworks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to a statement issued by JEDCO on Wednesday, the project seeks to enhance the capacity of business support institutions to design and implement digital assistance programs for SMEs operating in the tourism and hospitality sector. The initiative is intended to advance digital transformation efforts and improve the ability of these enterprises to utilize e-commerce tools and the broader digital economy.
The project is based on a memorandum of understanding signed between JEDCO and the Fund for Development of Youth Projects (Sharakah) in Oman, along with a corresponding action plan. JEDCO will lead implementation in partnership with its Omani counterpart, with technical support provided by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development.
Acting Executive Director of JEDCO, Dana Zoubi, said the initiative underscores the importance of regional partnerships in developing innovative support mechanisms for SMEs, particularly in high-potential sectors such as tourism and hospitality, which are increasingly shifting toward digital solutions.
Zoubi added that the project aligns with economic modernization objectives and institutional priorities aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs. She highlighted that the exchange of expertise among business support institutions in Islamic countries would contribute to more efficient and sustainable programming, while improving the readiness of tourism projects to benefit from opportunities in the digital economy.
She noted that the project also aims to strengthen institutional capacities in designing financial and technical support programs for tourism-related enterprises, drawing on regional and international best practices. This, she said, would enhance the competitiveness of SMEs and expand their access to new markets.
The project further includes the development of practical guidelines and outputs designed to serve as implementable support models across Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states, reinforcing the role of business support institutions in adapting to digital transformation and enabling SMEs to capitalize on emerging economic opportunities.
//Petra// AJ
