By : JD News Desk
Jordan Daily – The Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) released a brief today titled “Future Technology and Its Role in Enhancing Productivity,” emphasizing the need for a comprehensive national strategy to advance the use of leading technologies across various sectors to increase productivity and strengthen Jordan’s economic competitiveness.
In the brief, seen by the Jordan Daily, the forum highlighted the critical role of the recently established National Council for Future Technology, formed under royal directives to enhance Jordan’s position in the global digital economy. The council focuses on digital transformation and the incorporation of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and robotics, into the economy.
The brief also cited projections for the global “leading technology” market, which is expected to see substantial growth, reaching $9.5 trillion in revenue by 2030, up from $1.5 trillion in 2020, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Technology and Innovation Report.
The forum also reviewed findings from the World Bank’s “Growth in the Middle East and North Africa” report. The report highlighted that per capita income in Jordan amounts to only 18% of the average per capita income in leading economies like the United States, while Jordan’s total factor productivity (which measures the efficiency of capital and labor use) is around 48% of that in leading economies.
An analysis of Jordan’s manufacturing technology levels was also included, revealing that second-tier high-tech industries, such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, contribute just 9.8% to the country’s total industrial output. In contrast, low-tech industries- such as clothing, textiles, furniture, and paper- account for 36.2% of the total output. This underscores the need for policies that support the shift toward more advanced industries to enhance Jordan’s competitiveness in the global economy.
The brief further noted that 31% of productivity differences between firms can be attributed to varying levels of technological advancement. Many emerging economies, it added, are adopting and scaling modern technologies and advanced business models, leading to what is known as technological diffusion or penetration.
In conclusion, the JSF called for the integration of leading technologies into all production processes through a comprehensive strategy combining investment, technological adoption, and innovation.
The forum stressed the crucial role of the National Council for Future Technology in achieving this goal, especially if such efforts are accompanied by increased investment in human capital, education, infrastructure, and attracting foreign technology firms. These efforts, the forum emphasized, would help achieve greater economic resilience and sustainable growth.
