34 companies – and later on, the growing companies – will typically need to have a regional and/or global focus, as the Jordan market is typically too small and poor for companies to prosper. However, a key barrier in Jordan is the concrete legal and regulatory challenges that make starting and closing a tech business too risky and unattractive. PUBLIC SECTOR INNOVATION: Government plays a large role in ensuring that a digital strategy can unfold and become a reality on the ground. As a lawmaker, but also as enabling partner and a law enforcer or interpreter, and as a market, where digital solutions can be tested and unfolded. ENABLING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: To be an important player in the global digital economy, Jordan needs world-class companies. To support these, Jordan needs to have favorable business conditions spanning from opening a business and running it to closing it down, but clearly also the most transparent laws. These business conditions are not only pertaining to ICT, but should be favorable to companies across the economy. ICT SKILLS, CAPACITY AND TALENT: Building on one of the other clear strengths that Jordan has, namely its human capital, is also important for positioning Jordan in the global value chains and in the region. The skills should be further developed to ensure that Jordan has the innovative skills for bringing ICT verticals into other key sectors. One of the current initiatives to build on is the Jordan Skills Standardization Organization (JSSO) focusing on bridging the gap between universities’ graduates and private sector requirements and working on improving skills of unemployed resources according to the unique sector needs and trends64 based on a qualifications framework. Another is the int@j initiative, offering - through its international partners and local training centers - a certification program related to IoT, Cloud Computing and Big Data. The aim of this is to better equip ICT professionals and fresh graduates. SMART INFRASTRUCTURE is highly relevant for the uptake and use of digital solutions among businesses and its employees. The digital infrastructure should be in place in Jordan and should be able to meet the demands and enable the advancement to a digital economy, for the benefit of the tech sector and the wider digital economy sectors. APPROACH AND LOGIC FRAMEWORK TRANSFORMATION FORWARD TO DRIVE THE The action plan builds on a strong foundation in Jordan as highlighted in the vision paper:  The first REACH Initiative, which was launched in year 2000 as the official kick-start of a comprehensive public-private partnership, aimed at developing the country’s ICT sector and pave the way for the other economic sectors to move into the Knowledge Economy. 64 http://www.intaj.net/content/jordan-skills-standardization-organization-jsso | REACH 2025 ACTION PLAN – ROADMAP TO EXCELLENCE