Amman, Nov. 21 (Petra)-- The Jordanian-Syrian ICT Forum kicked off in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Friday. The event is organized by the Jordanian Information and Communications Technology Association "int@j," in cooperation with Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Technology.
According to a statement by the association, the opening ceremony was attended by Jordan’s Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smirat; Syrian Minister of Communications and Technology, Abdel-Salam Haykal; Chairman of int@j’s Board of Directors, Fadi Qutaishat; Jordan’s Ambassador to Damascus, Sufian Al-Qudah; and Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Commerce, Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, in addition to leaders of telecom and technology companies from both countries.
Also in attendance were the heads of the National Cybersecurity Council, the National Cybersecurity Center, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission’s Board of Commissioners, and the Secretary-General of Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship.
Minister Smirat stressed that the presence of the Jordanian delegation "in the heart of Damascus carries a clear message that relations between Jordan and Syria are not transient protocol ties, but historical bonds reinforced by geography, brotherhood, and shared interests." He added that Jordan takes pride in its ICT companies, which have expanded into regional and global markets and achieved success stories in cybersecurity, e-payments, digital solutions, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. He noted that the participation of more than 80 Jordanian companies in the forum underscores a genuine desire to build bridges of cooperation with Syria.
Smirat pointed out that the wide Syrian participation "reflects the readiness of the Syrian government sector to embark on a new phase of reconstruction and development." He said Jordan has made major strides in recent years in digital transformation, telecom regulation, cybersecurity, and e-commerce progress that positions the Kingdom to share expertise and offer technical and knowledge-based support to Syria.
For his part, Qutaishat said the forum reflects a shared conviction that cooperation between Jordan and Syria in the ICT sector is not a temporary initiative but a long-term path of coordination and joint work that companies in both countries aspire to strengthen.
He noted that assembling such a large number of Jordanian companies around 80 for cooperation with a single country is one of the largest sectoral delegations to participate abroad in recent years.
Qutaishat emphasized that the shared ambition is to transform this meeting into a clear action plan with joint projects built on long-term vision and serious planning, ensuring that its impact reaches citizens in both countries.
Syrian Minister Abdel-Salam Haykal said that the scale of cooperation between the two countries "is far from ordinary," adding that such a high level of attendance and engagement "can only occur between two brotherly nations bound by longstanding familial, social, and economic ties." He stated that the "new Syria," looking to launch into a different future, seeks to build partnerships based on exchange and maximizing mutual benefit. Haykal affirmed that Syrians possess strong technical and commercial capabilities that make them influential entrepreneurs both at home and across the region.
He added that the true test of relations between the two nations appeared during the years of crisis, when Jordan welcomed Syrians with "genuine care and understanding," laying the foundation for a new era of mutual trust.
"We are at the beginning of one of the most difficult economic and technological transitions," he said, "and building partnerships with Jordan is an essential part of that transition." The forum included a panel discussion featuring Ministers Smirat and Haykal, along with Qutaishat, focusing on the state of the ICT sectors in both countries, opportunities for technological development, and mechanisms to expand partnerships and joint investment.
Nidal Bitar, CEO of int@j, highlighted that Jordan’s ICT sector is now one of the main pillars of the national economy, hosting more than 2,200 active companies, including over 490 startups.
The sector provides more than 46,000 direct jobs, including around 12,000 graduates from Jordan’s 39 universities and 51 community colleges proof of the Kingdom’s readiness with qualified human capital to drive digital growth.
Sanan Hatatat from the Syrian Computer Society said the startup landscape in Syria is witnessing notable transformation, with real examples of companies that began with simple ideas and managed to multiply their operations within just a few years, reflecting the resilience and creativity of Syrian youth despite difficult conditions.
He also noted the strong participation of women in the tech sector, where they make up about 35% of the workforce one of the highest rates among various economic sectors.
Hatatat added that recent statistical studies indicate very high digital adoption potential among Syrians: four out of ten people are willing to embrace new digital solutions. This is supported by improved internet services and the emergence of an expanding digital payment ecosystem, signaling even stronger future demand for technology.
//Petra// MF
