World Bank Pledges $70 million to Boost Jordan's Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship in Jordan is now getting international support. Yesterday, The World Bank launched a new project to foster job creation and ease access to finance for entrepreneurs in the Hashemite Kingdom, especially those outside the capital.
The $70 million Micro, Small and Medium Entreprise (MSME) Development for Inclusive Growth Project, approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors, will focus on governorates outside Amman to promote growth in underserved districts and encourages banks to have special offers for women.
"This loan will support the creation of much needed employment opportunities for Jordan's growing population of young people," Ferid Blhaj, World Bank Director for the Mashreq Department, stated in the press release.
"The Central Bank of Jordan has taken a number of key measures to improve MSME access to finance. These measures have contributed to some expansion, and helped shape a more positive enabling environment," says Sahar Nasr, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.
The loan couldn't come at a better time. In 2011,
even before the Syrian strife injected over 250,000 refugees into
the country, 14.2% of Jordan's population was living below the poverty
line, the official unemployment rate was 12.3% in 2011, and the
unofficial rate was approximately published as 30%. As of 2009,
unemployment is high, and rising, at 22.6% for males between 15-24
and 45.9% for women.
Despite all of the challenges it faces, Jordan's economy is
expected to expand, from an estimated 3% increase in GDP in 2012 to a 3.5%
in 2013, potentially reaching 4.5% growth by 2017, according to the
IMF.
Small and medium businesses in the ICT sector in
particular will be a large driver of that growth, as it currently
contributes 14% to the Jordanian economy, and has created 84,000
Jobs, according to the Information and Communications Technology
Association of Jordan (INT@J).
Jordan stands to accelerate this growth; its success stories have already proven that small businesses are
steadily scaling. In the tech
sector, Jeeran, a popular user review
platform, received investment from Silicon
Valley-based seed fund and accelerator 500Startups. Media company Kharabeesh boasts the largest
YouTube Multi Channels Network in the Middle East. Despite a few
startup closures recently, Jordan's gaming sector is also leading
the Arab market, thanks to support from the Jordan Gaming Task Force
supported by King Abdullah and global players like Sony, which
is opening a studio in the country this year.
Jordan also plays host to Oasis500, the region's largest tech
accelerator, which has produced 55 startups thus far.
The World Bank's loan will undoubtedly continue to support similar
tech startups, as well as those outside the technology sector that
can help boost the Jordanian economy.
Image credit: Argenberg