Amman, Aug. 11 (Petra) -- Data Space Solutions on Tuesday launched the action plan for its "Thousand Zero to Hero 2027" program, aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young Jordanians in line with the Economic Modernization Vision 2023-2033.

The plan targets training and qualifying 2,000 young men and women in future skills to connect 1,000 of them to employment opportunities. At least 40% of beneficiaries will be women and 15% people with disabilities, while the program will focus on reaching young people across governorates to promote equal opportunities and broaden access to the digital economy beyond the capital.

The program places particular emphasis on the information technology and digital creative industries sectors, with objectives including developing qualified digital human capital, advancing high-level skills, creating quality digital jobs, strengthening public-private digital partnerships, and enhancing Jordan's readiness in artificial intelligence and its applications.

Data Space Solutions Director-General Zaid Al-Rifai said the program represented a national platform bringing together various partners to prepare a generation of young people equipped with future skills and directly connect them with practical training and employment opportunities.

"Real investment in young people is not limited to providing them with knowledge. It starts by turning their capabilities into applicable skills, then into experience, and ultimately into economic value and sustainable jobs," he said, stressing the importance of continued cross-sector partnerships to ensure measurable and scalable impact.

Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia Director-General Ayesh Qatarneh highlighted the initiative's importance in empowering young people in the Badia and governorates, noting its particular focus on providing opportunities for residents of the Badia and remote areas, as well as empowering women and people with disabilities.

Green Circle Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Al-Khudari said the program was launched following a series of grants provided by various entities and projects, which served as the initial impetus for continuing efforts to strengthen integration between the private and public sectors and provide services and opportunities for young people.

Green Circle will implement the initiative through practical training programs in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, equipping participants with the practical skills required in the labor market.

Nidal Al-Bitar, chief executive of the Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j), said the association, as the representative of Jordan's information and communications technology sector, supported the initiative through three practical tracks.

These include aligning training programs with companies' actual needs through the association's specialized sector councils covering cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, fintech, and education technology, as well as its outsourcing council; opening mentoring and practical training channels within member companies; and connecting high-performing participants with local employment opportunities and jobs in export markets.

Executive Director of the King Abdullah II Center for Excellence (KACE) Wedad Qutishat spoke about institutional integration to achieve sustainable development impact, saying the ambitious national initiative represented a genuine model of partnership and integration across sectors.

She said it demonstrated that investing in people was the cornerstone of sustainable development, building a more competitive economy and creating a society better equipped to meet future requirements.

Yaseen Halil, director of the Youth Movement Support Fund, who attended the launch ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Youth, affirmed the ministry's support for efforts to empower Jordanian youth and enhance their readiness for future skills and employment opportunities.

The program seeks to align education and training with labor market needs and promising economic sectors, organizers said.

The launch reflects a clear shift from a "training for training's sake" model to a "training for employment" model, under which beneficiaries' journeys do not end with obtaining a training certificate but continue through practical application, experience-building, exposure to employers' needs, and progression to practical training and employment opportunities.

The program covers a range of high-demand sectors and future skills, particularly cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, and digital transformation, alongside professional and personal skills related to youth employability. The program is aligned with national priorities concerning the digital economy, advanced skills, and future jobs.

The program's action plan is based on a broad national partnership model bringing together the private sector, universities, training institutions, and civil society organizations.

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of government entities, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, as well as a number of chief executives and representatives of companies, universities, and national institutions.

Data Space Solutions is a Jordanian non-profit organization that aims to empower young Jordanians by developing their digital skills and preparing them for the labor market in technology fields with growing demand.

//Petra// AF