AMMAN, Jordan — Hard-pressed electronics companies seeking new markets are increasingly looking to the Middle East for new business.

Jordan in particular has attracted the attention of U.S. and European companies as its western-educated King Abdullah II seeks to modernize Jordan's infrastructure and link other Middle Eastern states.

Intel Corp.'s Craig Barrett was the latest chief executive to visit the region, attending Jordan ICT Forum on Tuesday (Oct. 1).

"With over 300 million inhabitants," Barrett told the conference attendees, "this is a very exciting part of the world in terms of the buildout of this technology, which is increasing capabilities, impacting many countries and which could create something of an economic community among the Arab countries."

Despite the global downturn in the computer and communications industries, keynote speaker Fawaz H. Zu'bi, Jordan's Minister for Information and Communications Technology, reported progress here on Jordan's national technology strategy.

Though slightly below expectations, Jordan employed about 5,000 IT professionals in 2001, generated $38 million in exports and $60 million in foreign direct investment. Domestic high-tech revenue also grew to $138 million. By 2004, Jordan aims to boost exports to $550 million and foreign direct investment to $150 million.

Tech-heavy exports

Almost 70 percent of Jordan's export revenue comes from sales of software and IT services. Saudi Arabia is Jordan's largest single technology export market, with exports to the United States a close second. The United Arab Emirates account for about 15 percent.

A program called "Connecting Jordanians," recently launched by the government, aims to connect every school, college, university and IT community center in the country by 2005 via a high-speed broadband fiber-optic communications network. Initiatives in electronic learning and e-government are also under way.

During his visit to Jordan, Intel's Barrett opened an Internet laboratory at the University of Jordan that will connect to the rest of the world. Barrett said Intel would open two "computer clubhouses" here next year and in the Ramallah area of the West Bank over the next several months.