Egypt highly committed to developing technology
Egypt, Economics, 4/8/2000

The US Administration renewed faith in the Egypt's Government serious willingness to making inroads into advanced technology. Egypt is highly committed to developing and applying advanced technologies. "The evidence can be found in numerous statements made by President Mubarak since July 1999," Chery Shavers, Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology said.

High-Tech has been high on Mubarak's agenda since last year. It was in last September when the Egyptian President announced the launching of the national program for technology development.

"Just one month later, he appointed the first Minister for Information Technology, he has frequently stated the government's strategic goals to build a high technology private sector community that will be able to compete in both the regional and global marketplace," Shavers added.

Describing as an "aggressive plan" the Egyptian Government's program for building information technology capabilities, the US official pointed to the appointment of Dr. Ahmed Nazif to lead the newly formed Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as a further evidence of the government of Egypt's commitment.

Shavers co-chairs the technology subcommittee of the Gore-Mubarak partnership for economic growth, development and framework for enhancing cooperation between Egypt and the US in various domains.

"Under the Gore-Mubarak partnership for economic growth and development, we have made information technology a priority," Shavers said.

Shavers highlighted mutual understanding between the two sides on the question of technology and information industry.

"We are working closely with our Egyptian colleagues under the partnership`s subcommittee for technology to stimulate the growth of a competitive information technology," Shavers added.

She laid a special emphasis on a US commitment to foster partnerships between US and Egyptian businesses in a reference to the big contribution the private sector can play in the promotion of the information technology in Egypt.

We also are committed to working with the government of Egypt to create policies that will encourage US business to invest in Egypt's private sector.

Back to her admiration of the new approach Egypt is adopting in making headway into the information market, Shavers said Minister Nazif has articulated an aggressive plan for building the information technology sector.

"Key to the success of that plan is private sector involvement," said Shavers when asked about her recipe for the Egyptian government.

"The Government of Egypt should continue to support aggressive programs such as those being implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology," The US Official said.

When asked if she believes that Egypt is now stable enough for the US and foreign investments, Shavers replied in the positive.

"Yes, a positive environment is being created by a forward thinking leadership in Egypt. This environment makes it possible for US and Egyptian business partnerships to flourish," Shavers said.

Shavers accompanied Nazif during a recent tour of major US technology and computer companies operating in the Silicon valley.

The tour took Nazif to Intel, Cisco systems, Sun systems, Oracle, Apple and HP. One day earlier, he spent a long day at Microsoft in Seattle.

The tour aimed at briefing the companies`s executives on the latest economic developments in Egypt and the vast opportunity open for cooperation between these companies and the Egyptian governments and private sector.

During the tour, the Chief Executives expressed readiness and willingness to cooperate with Egypt and promised to study the offers forwarded for them.

Shavers was deeply involved in the discussions. She expressed the US Administration's backing for cooperation with the Egyptian side in information technology, an Egyptian statement said.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt participates in fair of textile industry technology in Germany   (4/7/2000)
  Mubarak - Gore joint statement   (3/30/2000)
  US partnership progam grows   (3/27/2000)

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