jordan pulse -

By Dr. Laith Abdullah Al-Qahiwi

In a world changing faster than we expect, entrepreneurship is no longer a luxury in development programmes — it is a pillar for survival and future-making. The new economy is built not on natural resources, but on minds capable of innovation and creating solutions.

International reports that over 665 million entrepreneurs are trying to turn their ideas into real projects, while nearly 90% of startups fail within the first five years. These figures are not discouraging — they reveal that entrepreneurship is a path of resilience and distinction, achieved only by those who think globally and act locally.

In the Arab world, entrepreneurship remains confined to partial initiatives and motivational speeches, while what is truly needed is an institutional transformation that embeds it within public policy. Entrepreneurship is not merely starting a small business; it is redefining the relationship between youth and the state, between ideas and opportunities, and between ambition and empowerment. We need an environment that views failure as part of learning, and legislative and financial systems that free potential instead of restricting it.

In Jordan, where resources are scarce but dreams are vast, entrepreneurship stands out as the shortest path to economic and social empowerment. Jordanian youth have already proven their global competitiveness in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship; what they lack is not competence but a nurturing ecosystem that translates creativity into impact. When education is redefined, when effort is valued over outcome, and when support turns from seasonal projects into sustained national policies, the Jordanian entrepreneur can become a model for the Arab world.

True entrepreneurship, however, must align with national strategy and future foresight. Nations that advance don’t just inspire creativity — they give it direction toward the markets of tomorrow, not the markets of yesterday. Hence the importance of strategic thinking that links education, skills, and entrepreneurship with a national vision based on future realities, not present limitations.

The world is moving toward a digital economy, artificial intelligence, and jobs that don’t yet exist. This demands rethinking education and training systems to keep pace. The question is no longer how many graduates do we have, but what skills do they possess? Building creative, adaptive human capital requires advanced technical and vocational education, strong university–industry partnerships, and innovation labs that link knowledge to production. The future needs job creators, not job seekers.

Integrating entrepreneurship into education is not academic luxury but a long-term strategic investment. When critical thinking, design, coding, and entrepreneurship become core skills from early school years, we lay the foundation for a productive, creative society. Here lies the responsibility of the state, private sector, and academic institutions to form a new social contract between education and the labour market — one that anticipates change instead of chasing it.

As Jordan transitions toward a knowledge-based economy, entrepreneurship becomes a cornerstone of national vision — not as youth initiatives alone, but as a strategic tool to reshape roles between government, market, and society. When universities become centres of innovation rather than memorisation, and startups receive supportive fiscal and legal environments, entrepreneurs transform from beneficiaries into partners in development.

Future foresight is not theoretical — it’s a daily practice in planning and decision-making. Artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things define a new economic era requiring skills like data analysis, systems thinking, digital leadership, and rapid adaptability. Without education that embeds these abilities early, we remain consumers of others’ technologies instead of creators of our own.

Real investment lies not in buildings or mega-projects, but in building a visionary, entrepreneurial mindset that sees opportunity in change, not threat. When education becomes a pathway to innovation, entrepreneurship a social culture, and technology a means of empowerment, small ideas grow into national projects — and ordinary citizens become pioneers of tomorrow.

The world waits for no one. In an age where ideas are the new currency, the true bet is not on oil or money, but on people. Entrepreneurship is a national responsibility — and those who believe in it don’t wait for circumstances, they them.