The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship announced, on 30 January 2022, that, along with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency ('JICA'), it had signed the main technical axes of the project to build and develop the system supporting artificial intelligence ('AI') in Jordan. In particular, the Ministry noted that the two parties agreed on the general frameworks of the project, in addition to a draft record of discussions and the structure of the initial implementation.

Moreover, the Ministry highlighted that the aim of the technical cooperation between the two parties includes to strengthen and build the system supporting AI in Jordan, whilst also implementing models for use cases in AI in vital economic sectors. Furthermore, the Ministry emphasised that it had prepared the Jordanian policy for AI in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ('ESCWA') and Microsoft, with the aim of determining the general trend in managing resources and technologies using AI and finding the appropriate system and ideal environment for researchers, academics, and local and emerging pioneering companies to move forward towards optimal exploitation of modern technology, including AI technology.

You can read the press release, only available in Arabic, here.

UPDATE (8 July 2022)

Ministry announces partnership with JICA

The Ministry announced, on 4 July 2022, that it signed a joint cooperation agreement with the JICA to launch a technical cooperation project between the two parties in the field of AI and to enhance ways of cooperation in building and developing the system supporting AI in Jordan. In particular, the Ministry noted that the agreement came as a continuation of the agreement between the two parties in January 2022 on the main technical axes of the project to build and develop the system supporting AI in Jordan. Furthermore, according to the prior agreement, the two parties agreed on the general framework of the project, in addition to a draft record of discussions and the initial implementation structure.

You can read the press release, only available in Arabic, here.