JEDDAH: Jordan signed an agreement with Maryland Technology Development Corp., or TEDCO, to deepen cooperation with the US in technology investment and startup development as the country pushes to strengthen its digital economy.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Jordan’s Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smeirat during his visit to the US on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The agreement aims to accelerate cross-border collaboration between startups, support investment flows and deepen links between Jordanian technology companies and US innovation networks.
This comes as the country pushes to expand digital transformation and e-government services, with Jordan’s ICT sector generating more than $3.3 billion in annual revenue, according to the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
“Smeirat said that the memorandum represents a practical step toward translating mutual interests into tangible programs that benefit investors and companies alike, cementing Jordan’s status as a regional technology leader,” Petra reported.
Under the MoU, the two sides aim to enable Jordanian companies to access US markets more easily and help position Jordan as a preferred destination for international firms expanding into the Middle East and North Africa region.
“TEDCO is excited to formalize this collaboration with the Kingdom of Jordan,” TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall said, adding: “Through this agreement, we look forward to supporting the advancement of Jordan’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystems, which will create connections and opportunities in Maryland.”
The two sides also plan to organize investment-focused trade missions to the Middle Eastern country, host joint innovation events, and facilitate Jordan Source’s participation in the TEDCO Expo.
The program leverages Jordan’s skilled talent pool, advanced digital infrastructure, and strategic geographic location.
The signing builds on a joint seminar held earlier this year in collaboration with the World Trade Institute and the University System of Maryland, which helped establish initial connections between Jordanian and US companies.
The partnership reflects Jordan’s drive to broaden global technology linkages, strengthen its domestic innovation landscape, and reinforce its role as a regional center for information technology services.
