"There is no tradition of venture capital in the Arab world, so Oasis500 is a pioneer. It invites any Jordanian or Arab to come with a start-up plan. Any plan that is accepted receives $15,000 in seed capital. Then the starter-uppers have to go through Oasis500 boot camp, an intense five-week course in how to build a company. The survivors are given office space at The Business Park for three to six months. For those who manage to grow after their first stage of incubation, there is more angel funding, legal advice, mentoring and networking opportunities with local business leaders."
Explaining that this business ventures amounts to another Arab Spring "alongside the drama in the streets of Cairo and Damascus,"
Friedman concludes by observing that he is "rooting for this Arab Spring as much as the other one."
Glad to know that Tom is an Arab Spring "fan."
But what isn't Tom bothering to tell us from Amman? More than 70% of Jordan's population of some six million consists of Palestinians; however, Palestinians occupy only six seats of Jordan's 120-member Parliament, and "not a single Palestinian is currently serving as a mayor of any of Jordan’s cities" (see: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=257541). Discrimination against Palestinians in the job place is also common.
But why should Tom focus on the persecution of Palestinians in Jordan, when it is much more pleasant to regale us with tales about a hi-tech incubator?
No comments:
Post a Comment