While I was closely observing, a short time ago, the digital miracle and technological explosion in Indonesia, that silent revolution measured by lines of programming, the speed of data processing, and the comprehensiveness of financial systems, I wondered to myself passionately: Is it possible for such a successful model to exist in our homeland, Jordan? I did not wait long for an answer; A few days later, I was invited by the Central Bank of Jordan to witness two inspiring models that provided me with the answer to my question and proved to me that the Kingdom is moving confidently on the right track. On the one hand, I saw the initiatives of the Jordanian Payment and Clearing Systems Company JoPACC, whose Board of Directors is chaired by His Excellency the Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan, and on the other hand, I saw the achievements of the Cyber ​​Incident Response Unit (Fin-CIRT) of the Central Bank system.

These two models have proven conclusively that Jordan has made tremendous strides in transforming Jordanian youth from consumers of technology into makers and innovators of it, fortifying them with the highest standards of cybersecurity and data governance, reshaping the features of the smartphone in the citizen’s hand to become a mobile bank and a real engine of economic growth.

The explosion in financial technology companies that Indonesia is witnessing is not the result of a coincidence, but rather the result of a strategic cohesion between an advanced digital infrastructure and a flexible legislative environment that has been able to accommodate the ambitions of more than 280 million people. In contrast, Jordan today stands on the threshold of a similar transformation, as recent efforts and initiatives reflect a deep awareness that technological sovereignty is the only guarantee of financial stability in the twenty-first century.

Today, Indonesia is considered a global case study in how to leap beyond traditional development stages. While developed countries spent decades building traditional banking systems, Indonesia jumped straight into digital financial technology. The secret of the Indonesian explosion lies in uniformity.

Years ago, payment systems were fragmented, but Indonesia’s central bank launched the Unified Code Standard (QRIS), which allowed any merchant, even a simple bicycle seller, to accept payment from any financial app. This system not only made daily life easier, but brought millions into the formal financial system for the first time.

In Jordan, we see a scene that is different in details, but similar in ambition. The Central Bank of Jordan, which has long been the safety valve for the monetary system, has also turned today into an engine of innovation. The celebration that took place last week, sponsored by WPAC, to graduate an elite group of young developers, was not just a distribution of certificates, but rather a declaration of digital independence. These young people have developed digital solutions that touch the nerves of the national economy.

The invitation extended to bank CEOs to attend this ceremony was a brilliant strategic move. In the Indonesian experience, the relationship between banks and FinTech companies was initially one of apprehension, but it turned into a full partnership. In Jordan, this distance was shortened by bringing together banking sector leaders with young developers, paving the way for the emergence of emerging technology companies (Startups) supported by national capital.

A digital economy cannot be built in an insecure environment. Therefore, the Cyber ​​Incident Response Unit at the Central Bank of Jordan (Fin-CIRT) works in parallel with the development efforts. The graduation of the second batch of the cybersecurity camp for the year 2025, with the participation of 311 trainees who obtained 19 international certificates, is an investment in the country’s economic security.

When we put the two experiences side by side, we discover that Indonesia succeeded because it unified the language of payment via (QRIS). Jordan has made great strides through the CliQ and eFawateercom systems, but the next challenge is to integrate these systems into the citizen’s daily life more deeply, to include financial inclusion even for people with simple professions and farmers in the valleys and governorates, just as the GoPay and OVO applications did in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, 80% of companies are adopting artificial intelligence, not as a luxury, but to improve operations and detect fraud. Jordan, led by the Central Bank, was able to use the big data generated to draw an accurate economic roadmap. Artificial intelligence here is not just a chatbot, but rather a predictive engine that helps in making sovereign decisions based on realistic numbers.

In Indonesia, the number of financial technology companies jumped from 51 companies in 2011 to more than 330 companies expected in 2025. Jordan today has qualified developers and prestigious international certificates, and what it needs is a bridge that connects these young people to the global market. The step of bringing together developers with bank presidents is the cornerstone of building this bridge.

The vision adopted by the Central Bank of Jordan completely intersects with the vision of economic modernization of the Kingdom. The goal is not only to digitize transactions, but to create a resilient and shock-resistant economy.

My message to every official, every bank president, and every young developer: Today we are facing a historic opportunity to put Jordan on the map of digital giants. The Indonesian experience has proven that the impossible is not Indonesian, and the current Jordanian experience demonstrates that creativity has no limits when it finds the right support and governance.

The work that the Central Bank of Jordan is doing in building the cyber shield and the innovative incubator is the true guarantee of our financial stability and economic prosperity. We will not be satisfied with watching the Indonesian miracle, but rather we will create our own Jordanian version, a version that speaks the language of excellence, wears the dress of safety, and moves forward towards horizons that do not know the impossible.