Amman, Sept. 15 (Petra) -- Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smeirat opened Tuesday a new branch of semiconductor company Norvia Tech at Abdali Boulevard in Amman, marking growing interest by specialized technology companies in investing and expanding in Jordan and supporting the Kingdom’s drive to develop an advanced national semiconductor sector.

According to a ministry statement, the new branch is part of national efforts to strengthen Jordan’s position in global semiconductor value and supply chains by developing an integrated ecosystem that brings together specialized talent, education and training, and a supportive legislative and investment environment.

Norvia Tech’s Amman branch will begin operations this month, adding to the growing number of specialized technology companies choosing Jordan as a base for their regional operations and growth.

The Semiconductor Subcommittee, established under the National Council for Future Technology on royal directives and chaired by the Prime Minister under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, coordinates national efforts in the sector by aligning the work of ministries, universities, and the public and private sectors under an integrated action plan.

As part of these efforts, specialized semiconductor academic programs have been introduced at several Jordanian universities, with the first cohort of students admitted this month. Incentives for the sector are also being developed, while legislative and customs frameworks are being aligned to support the growth of the semiconductor industry and attract specialized global companies.

Smeirat said Jordan is working to build an integrated ecosystem that positions the Kingdom as a competitive destination for quality investment in semiconductors. Investment in the sector, he noted, goes beyond attracting companies to building national capabilities, developing specialized talent, and creating the legislative and investment environment needed for their growth.

"We view the semiconductor sector as one of the strategic sectors through which Jordan can move to more advanced positions in global value chains, building on a strong pool of talent in the technology sector and a national ecosystem working in an integrated manner to develop skills, academic programs, incentives, and the legislative environment," Smeirat added.

Norvia Tech General Manager Bassam Abdel Dayem described the opening of the company’s engineering center in Amman as an important milestone for both the company and Jordan. "We are not simply building an engineering center, but establishing an ecosystem that brings together Jordanian talent, global expertise, and innovation to develop technologies capable of competing and reaching global markets," he said.

Jordan’s approach to developing the semiconductor sector builds on a growing information and communications technology sector comprising more than 2,000 companies and 50,000 specialists. Graduates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines account for about 22 percent of total university graduates, while Jordan’s location provides access to major markets through free trade agreements and applicable rules of origin, according to the statement.

The Jordan Source program, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship’s national investment attraction program, serves as a point of contact for technology companies seeking to establish or expand operations in the Kingdom. It connects companies with available talent and opportunities and facilitates registration, licensing, and recruitment procedures, as well as access to investment incentives.

//Petra// AJ