Increasing volume of information industry
Egypt, Economics, 9/6/2000

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Ahmed Nazif said a plan will be implemented to increase the value of information technology industry by the year 2002 via benefiting from the Indian expertise in this domain.

The Indian Minister of Science and Technology will visit Egypt next month to meet with Nazif and confer with Egyptian companies for data technology and communications on boosting cooperation between the two sides.

The national plan for communications and information envisages two main axes represented in establishing cooperation between Egyptian companies and their counterparts in the advanced countries in this field as well as attracting global firms to take part in local services and productive ventures in tandem with Egyptian programmes, Nazif said.

The Egyptian market has become a centre for luring international companies of programming and data technology which establish branches in Egypt, the Minister added.

On the other hand, registration for professional training courses in communications and information networks started last week and will run for two weeks.

The courses, organized by the Ministry of communications and Information are open to 1998, 1999 and 2000 graduates from faculties of engineering, Computer Science and Communications, Dr. Nazif said.

The courses aim at upgrading the skills of about 360 specialists in communications and information networks.

Meanwhile, for the second time in a week the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) has approved the establishment of an IT company in the Nasr City Free Zone. "IT Works Egypt," a joint stock company, will be set up according to the GAFI system, with a capital of $ 18.5 million.

The decision to launch the two IT companies comes in response to the incentives and facilities offered by the GAFI which will provide land with infrastructure and lifetime exemptions, GAFI Chairman Mohamed Al Ghamrawi said.

The Egyptian government announced it will slash telephone and Internet service costs with the aim of encouraging Internet usage.

Minister of Communications and Information Dr. Ahmed Nazif said his Ministry will slash Internet connection fees by up to 30 per cent as of September 1st. It will also cut charges for 0-900 coded smart card services by 50 per cent to just 10 piasters per minute.

Rates for international phone calls to a large number of Arab, European and Latin American countries will be reduced by 35 per cent.

The reductions will benefit Internet service providers, and in turn ordinary users, Nazif said. It is the second reduction in the last ten months, the first was last September.

Previous Stories:
  Arthur Andersen : Egypt has leading tourist sites   (7/21/2000)
  Egyptian - European Partnership issue placed before the public   (7/18/2000)
  Merrill Lynch proves confidence in Egyptian Economy   (7/11/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search