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For this episode, we’re in Jordan - a country recognised as a global GovTech leader, and whose monarch, King Abdallah II, has ambitions to turn it into a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

But the stakes are high. Jordan faces a complex set of challenges: high youth unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and significant pressure on public services due to its limited natural resources and the responsibility of hosting a large refugee population. 

In June 2022 the government launched its Economic Modernisation Vision - an ambitious reform program that aims to increase income per capita by 3% per year, and bring 1 million more young people into the labour market by 2033. 

The government is betting on digital transformation as a key piece of the puzzle, aiming to not only streamline public services but also to drive job creation, attract investment, and boost economic resilience.

So what can other countries seeking to use their tech sector as an engine of economic growth and job creation learn from Jordan’s experience thus far? And where can development partners best focus their support to accelerate Jordan’s progress toward efficient, trust-building, tech-enabled services?

To discuss this, we spoke with Amjad Swais, chair of the trade body representing Jordan's tech sector, Intaj.