Umniah, Plug and Play to establish joint accelerator in Jordan

AMMAN — Local telecom company Umniah has signed an agreement with the US-based Plug and Play to support emerging technology companies in Jordan.

The agreement entails establishing a joint Plug and Play accelerator centre in Jordan, according to an Umniah statement released Monday.

The centre will allow Jordan-based companies to gain expertise and knowledge through different marketing training sessions on how to globally expand their businesses.

The agreement, signed during His Majesty King Abdullah’s visit to Plug and Play in Silicon Valley last week, also aims to bridge the gap between Jordan-based companies and the US.

Umniah CEO Ihab Hinnawi, who signed the agreement with Plug and Play CEO Saeed Amidi, said the deal “helps link local start-ups to international investors and gives them industrial guidance”.

Amidi agreed, noting that the initiative builds on Plug and Play’s international initiatives in Germany, Brazil, Spain and other countries.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Plug and Play is a business accelerator that specialises in growing tech start-ups.

Its global network includes more than 300 tech start-ups, over 180 investors and a community of leading universities and corporate partners, according to its website.

Umniah said the agreement complements past acceleration programmes organised between the two sides in partnership with the ICT Association of Jordan and USAID in Jordan.

The acceleration programme qualifies start-ups in Jordan to travel to Silicon Valley for an extensive three-month training programme. So far, a total of nine companies have completed the training, with preparations under way for the fourth wave, according to Umniah.