The Jordanian government will ask parliament to endorse a string of laws to develop the information technology (IT) market, telecommunications minister, Fawwaz Zohbi, said in statements published Friday.
"The government will put together over the next few months a series of information-technology laws and submit them to parliament for approval," Zohbi told a national conference to map out the kingdom's IT strategy Thursday.
Jordan will seek specific legislation on e-commerce and other IT-related activities, which are making forays into the Jordanian and Arab markets, Zohbi told the last session of the conference attended by King Abdullah II.
The forum was the culmination of 10 weeks of debate among leaders of the budding IT sector in Jordan who emerged from their discussions with a series of requests for new legislation and amendments to laws regulating economic life in the kingdom, the English-language Jordan Times reported Friday.
"During 71 days, more than 97 meetings were held for the equivalent of 3,600 hours which reflects the broad interest that this industry receives," said Karim Kawar, chairman of the Information Technology Association of Jordan (Int@j).
Kawar, who was quoted by the Jordan Times, said the recommendations will be submitted to government and to the economic consultative council which was set up by King Abdullah to invigorate the country's economy.
Participants at the forum specifically called for a re-haul of the companies law to encourage investments, with some suggesting that declared capital requirements be reduced and others calling for greater tax incentives.
Calls were also made for tariff reductions on telephone lines to make the use of the internet more accessible and competitive as well as the establishment of toll-free numbers, the Jordan Times reported.
Jordan, with royal encouragement from King Abdullah, is trying to attract $150 million in foreign investments by 2004, create 30,000 jobs and provide cash-strapped Jordan with $550 million from IT-related exports. — (AFP-Amman)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
