Amman, March 13 (Petra) -- Minister of Social Development and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, Wafa’a Bani Mustafa, emphasized that under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Kingdom has recognized the importance of investing in young talent and fostering an environment that nurtures innovation. She pointed out that Jordan has made remarkable progress in these areas in recent years.

Speaking at a side event hosted by Oman titled "Arab Women Towards Creativity and Innovation: The Era of the Industrial Revolution" during the The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York on Wednesday evening, Bani Mustafa highlighted that innovation and entrepreneurship are essential to Jordan’s future.

She noted that His Majesty’s Economic Modernization Vision is centered on achieving sustainable growth and improving the quality of life for future generations by focusing on key areas, including entrepreneurship, creativity, and future services.

The minister also stressed that Jordan’s stability and security have turned it into a hub for creativity and entrepreneurship. The Kingdom now provides an environment that supports and nurtures creative ideas, offering the necessary tools to transform them into real-world success stories. This is evident in various sectors, such as education, scientific research, curriculum development, and the introduction of new university programs aligned with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Moreover, initiatives like the Crown Prince Foundation, the Innovation Support Fund, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, and Oasis500 are helping to turn innovative ideas into viable projects.

Bani Mustafa further highlighted Jordanian startups in the creative industries and technology sectors, noting their success in global markets, particularly in fintech, e-commerce, software development, and artificial intelligence. She applauded the achievements of several of these companies both locally and internationally.

She urged the need to cultivate a culture of creativity by creating educational and supportive environments that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, with a particular focus on investing in research and development. She emphasized the importance of empowering both youth and women, as they are the driving forces behind innovation.

Bani Mustafa also addressed the ethical challenges posed by technological advancements, particularly the risks associated with artificial intelligence. She pointed to the rise of deepfake technology, which enables the manipulation of images and videos, potentially leading to misinformation, fraud, and privacy violations. She stressed the need to be mindful of how AI relies on big data and the potential privacy risks it could pose.

This year’s 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Saudi Arabia, is focused on reviewing the progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, assessing the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, and evaluating the current challenges in achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment, and their contributions to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

//Petra// WH

13/03/2025 12:11:48