In 2021, Diwanieh — an initiative founded by Dr. Sami Hourani — organized a public dialogue event in Amman under the title:
“Startups Play No Role in the Growth of the Jordanian Economy.”
The event focused on discussing the role of startups and entrepreneurial ventures in shaping Jordan’s economic future. The dialogue explored whether startups can effectively contribute to economic growth, job creation, innovation, and investment opportunities, while also addressing the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the Jordanian market.
The session brought together economic experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and members of the startup ecosystem in an open discussion about the realities of entrepreneurship in Jordan, including access to funding, scalability, digital transformation, and the sustainability of emerging businesses.
The event featured several distinguished speakers, including:
- His Excellency Dr. Yousef Mansour, former Minister of State for Economic Affairs
- Mr. Farhan Al-Kalaldeh, CEO and Co-founder of Impact MENA
- Mr. Tamer Al-Salah, former CEO of Beyond Capital, a company supporting entrepreneurial ventures
- Mr. Hamdi Al-Tabbaa, Co-founder and CEO of Abwab platform
The discussion highlighted the growing importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in modern economies and emphasized the need to create a supportive environment that enables startups to contribute more effectively to Jordan’s economic and social development.
