Amman, October 31 (Petra) – Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smeirat, concluded the Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Economic Development and Employment in Jordan Project, implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), during the "New Horizons 2026" event.
Held at the University of Jordan Academy in Amman, the event brought together startups, investors, private sector representatives, and entrepreneurship support organizations.
According to a ministry statement issued on Saturday, the event focused on fostering growth opportunities and business sustainability for startups by networking with investors and potential business partners, as well as exploring new commercial and investment prospects.
This initiative aims to build upon the project’s achievements and ensure its continued impact beyond its implementation period.
Launched in 2022, the project supported 697 startups, 427 of which are led by women.
Beneficiary companies reported the creation of 748 decent job opportunities, with 350 firms confirming growth in their business operations.
The project, co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, aligns with efforts to implement the National Entrepreneurship Policy (2021–2027).
This policy seeks to develop the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Kingdom, enhance startups' access to finance and markets, and facilitate the ease of doing business.
Talking at the closing ceremony, Smeirat said supporting entrepreneurship and enabling startups to grow and expand is a priority within national efforts to achieve the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision, specifically by stimulating private sector growth, creating job opportunities, and enhancing the contribution of entrepreneurial ventures to the national economy.
He noted that the project has helped translate national entrepreneurship policy priorities into "practical" programs by providing support to startups and broadening the range of services and opportunities available to entrepreneurs in the Kingdom's governorates.
He called for building upon these results and continuing collaboration with partners to ensure the sustainability of startups and facilitate their access to new markets.
For her part, Anne Laure Roche-Rault, representative of the European Union Delegation to Jordan, stated the project has strengthened the local entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting entrepreneurship networks in Aqaba and the northern region, including Jerash and Mafraq, and fostering cooperation among government institutions, universities, municipalities, and the private sector.
She said this process, in turn, makes it easier for entrepreneurs to access services and business partners within their own governorates.
She stated "The 'Angel Investors Club for Women' and the upcoming nationwide women’s entrepreneurship network are "tangible" achievements that will help women connect with new networks, gain knowledge, and seize new opportunities to grow their businesses." She added that the project supported the ministry in developing a monitoring and evaluation system for entrepreneurship-related interventions, while also contributing to the simplification of business procedures and enhancing the capacity of public sector staff tasked with supporting entrepreneurship.
"New Horizons 2026" featured targeted, one-on-one business meetings supported by ICON-INSTITUT that connected startups with potential investors, buyers, suppliers, and partners. Participating companies also delivered presentations to showcase their products and services, while exploring opportunities for commercial and investment collaboration.
Meanwhile, Sönke Lorenz, Deputy Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Jordan, said the event serves as an opportunity to build upon the project’s outcomes by fostering direct engagement between startups and the private sector.
He highlighted the importance of aligning national policies with entrepreneurship support programs to empower companies to grow and expand.
He added that the "true" value of the event lies in its potential to attract new clients, build relationships with suppliers and investors, and establish commercial and investment partnerships that will endure beyond the project’s conclusion, which would support the objectives of the National Entrepreneurship Policy and the Economic Modernization Vision.
The event also showcased the project’s key achievements, highlighted success stories from several participating startups, and exploring opportunities to build on these results in the coming phase.
//Petra//AG
