Orange Jordan Wraps PASS Programme After Aiding 130 Entrepreneurs

Orange Jordan has concluded its Private Sector Access to Support Startups (PASS) programme after supporting 130 entrepreneurs across the kingdom, the company announced in a statement issued Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The closing ceremony in Amman marked the end of a one-year effort to strengthen participating businesses and prepare them for further growth. The telecom operator ran the programme in partnership with the Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Economic Development and Employment (E4DE) project, implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Who backed the programme?

The activities were held in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE), with joint support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union.

That makes PASS a four-way effort: one Jordanian operator, one government ministry, one German development agency and two international funders. The coalition signals how donor money is flowing into Jordan's startup ecosystem through corporate channels rather than standalone grants.

What did the 130 entrepreneurs get?

Over the course of one year, the programme helped entrepreneurs develop their skills, address business challenges and prepare their companies for growth. Its stated goals were concrete: increase sales, improve productivity and strengthen competitiveness.

The method was tailored. Orange Jordan said the support was practical and matched to each company's needs, aligned with labor market requirements — not a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Geographically, the programme reached well beyond the capital. Impact extended to Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq, Karak and Aqaba, as well as Amman.

That spread matters. Jordan's startup activity concentrates heavily in Amman, and an initiative touching five governorates plus the capital pushes capital-region expertise into smaller markets.

What did Orange Jordan and GIZ say?

Orange Jordan framed the programme as part of a broader push to build a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, develop skills and provide direct communication channels with mentors. The company said this expansion demonstrates its commitment to sustaining these efforts and strengthening its strategic partnerships.

Orange Jordan also said the programme builds on its efforts to turn ideas into "tangible" outcomes that serve society and support national economic and digital objectives — goals the company said it pursues through what it calls its responsible and effective programmes.

GIZ took a methodological line. The agency called for combining tailored business support with sustained mentorship and engagement with the private sector. It said it would maintain this approach beyond the programme by giving entrepreneurs continued opportunities to connect with experts and by strengthening the private sector's role in Jordan's entrepreneurship ecosystem.

In plain terms: GIZ isn't treating PASS's closure as an endpoint, but as a template it intends to keep running.

Why it matters

For Orange Jordan, the programme aligns commercial infrastructure — mentors, networks, digital expertise — with the kingdom's national economic and digital agenda. For donors, it offers a delivery vehicle that already has customer relationships outside Amman.

The 130 businesses now enter the market with a year of tailored support behind them; whether sales and productivity actually rose will be the number to watch in any follow-up evaluation.