'Programming, mobile applications most profitable IT divisions in Kingdom'

AMMAN — The IT sector’s programming and mobile application divisions each generated more than $189 million in profits during 2018, according to a study published by the Information and Communications Technology Association (INT@J).

The two subsectors are the most profitable in the Kingdom’s IT sector, encompassing Jordanian-made mobile applications, websites and games.

The sector in total made $2.2 billion last year, marking a 4 per cent increase when compared to 2017, the study said. 

“This is why coming up with inventions that hold a Jordanian patent is important, not only for economic growth but also for the benefit of young Jordanians who need a push to come up with something amazing,” said Layla Awad, a former INT@J trainer, in an interview with The Jordan Times.

She added: “It comes as a surprise to some people that some of our young men and women have world-class talents, working with big names such as Google and Facebook.”

Sales of computer, mobile, and telecommunication infrastructure licenses generated $137 million, making it the third most profitable subsector, the study said.

“The great thing about these results is that they indicate that not only the talents but also the infrastructure and the logistics of the sector are improving, creating an altogether great IT future for Jordan,” Mohsen Ibrahim, a former youth programme director at the Ministry Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, told The Jordan Times in a recent interview.