Jordan Kuwait Bank has signed a new cooperation agreement with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD), renewing its strategic partnership with the Fund for a second consecutive year. The agreement underscores the Bank's continued commitment to strengthening Jordan's entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting the expansion of the Riyada Program, the Fund's flagship initiative for empowering young Jordanians, into a comprehensive, scalable national model that can be implemented across all governorates of the Kingdom throughout 2026 and 2027.

The agreement was signed by Haethum Buttikhi, Group CEO of Jordan Kuwait Bank, and Dr. Samer Al-Mufleh, Director General of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, in the presence of representatives from both organizations.

The renewed partnership builds on the success of the Riyada Program, which was launched in 2025 to help entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into successful, sustainable businesses by providing training, mentorship, and access to financing. The program's inaugural cycle attracted strong participation from across the Kingdom, culminating in the selection of a number of promising entrepreneurial ventures to progress to the implementation and business development stages.

Designed to foster a culture of innovation and productivity among Jordanian youth, the program also aims to create sustainable employment opportunities and transform entrepreneurial ideas into productive businesses that are well-positioned for growth and investment.

Through this two-year partnership, Jordan Kuwait Bank will continue supporting the Fund's efforts to develop “Riyada” into a fully integrated national entrepreneurship ecosystem that accompanies entrepreneurs throughout every stage of their journey, from idea generation and incubation to training, mentorship, financing, investment readiness, commercial expansion, and market access.

Commenting on the partnership, Haethum Buttikhi, Group CEO of Jordan Kuwait Bank, said that renewing the partnership reflects the Bank's vision of driving sustainable economic development by building integrated ecosystems that empower entrepreneurs and enable them to transform innovative ideas into competitive, high-growth businesses.

He added that the Bank views entrepreneurship as one of the primary drivers of economic growth and job creation. Supporting entrepreneurs aligns with the Bank's broader strategy to advance sustainability and financial inclusion while contributing to the objectives of Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision. It also represents a long-term investment in the country's youth, innovation, and productive capacity.

Dr. Samer Al-Mufleh, Director General of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, said the partnership demonstrates the importance of collaboration among national institutions in building a sustainable ecosystem that supports young entrepreneurs and nurtures innovative ideas, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision's goals of stimulating growth, fostering innovation, and creating opportunities for young people.

He added that, as a national platform supporting development initiatives across multiple sectors, the Fund is committed to building integrated support systems that accompany entrepreneurs throughout every stage of their journey, from idea development and capacity building to financing, company registration, business launch, and ongoing support. He emphasized that strategic partnerships with national institutions are essential to expanding the reach and impact of development programs and strengthening their contribution to sustainable economic growth.

This partnership reinforces Jordan Kuwait Bank's commitment to its role as a trusted national partner in advancing development initiatives and fostering an environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship. It also reflects the Bank's continued commitment to empowering young people, encouraging innovation, and contributing to the development of a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jordan.