Umniah selects startup projects to represent Jordan in the 2018 Mobile World Congress

As part of its ongoing efforts to support innovators and startup projects, Umniah recently announced its participation in Mobile World Congress, which will take place in February 2018 in Barcelona. Umniah will be participating under the umbrella of The Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j), and will nominate 6 startup projects focused on mobile applications and games to present their work during the event. The operator is also acquiring 50 permits for various parties to attend. Umniah had previously initiated the process for selecting the participating projects under specific criteria, focusing on startups and projects that are in need of support. Mobile World Congress (MWC) is considered one of the most anticipated events in the technology industry and is often used by manufacturers to introduce new mobile devices and technologies, including smartphones, tablets and laptop computers. The event draws an average of 50 to 60 thousand visitors annually from more than 200 countries. Commenting on this initiative, Umniah’s CEO Ziad Shatara said: “By nominating 6 startup companies to attend MWC, Umniah is enabling these projects to experience the latest in the world of mobile technology and application development, offering them the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to a much wider audience in a setting that allows for greater networking opportunities. This falls in line with our ongoing efforts to promote innovation amongst our youth and to help startups find creative solutions to technical and economic problems that can impede their long-term development.” Shatara explained that supporting innovation is a core component of Umniah’s strategy and its efforts to contribute to sustainable development – an endeavor epitomized by the founding of Umniah’s business innovation center, The Tank. The center has become one of the key platforms that provide added value to young innovators, offering a modern creative space and numerous opportunities for knowledge and experience sharing. Shatara also noted that the participation of Jordanian companies in MWC reflects the significant progress the local ICT sector has witnessed over the past years, underscoring the importance of the sector and its growing contribution to the local economy, which constitutes 12 percent of the GDP. He also explained that ICT offers a wealth of employment opportunities for Jordanians, particularly when it comes to providing a foundation for startups and young innovators. END