Egypt launches e-government initiative with Microsoft
Egypt, Business, 4/4/2001

Egypt has announced launching an e-government initiative with the US Microsoft Corporation to deliver the technical infrastructure critical for improving government services and intra-government collaboration.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, said the agreement interprets Egypt's commitment to apply information technology in its institutions. "This e-government initiative confirms the commitment of the Egyptian government to embrace the IT revolution by using the technology to deliver new and better quality services to the public," he said.

"This will not only facilitate effective communication between government departments but will also improve broader Internet use as this will act as a major inducement to the whole Egyptian community to get online." The announcement of the initiative comes after the signing of a cooperation agreement in Washington between Egypt's government, represented by Egyptian Communication and Information Technology Minister Ahmad Nazif, and Microsoft EMEA President Jean-Philippe Curtois during the US Chamber of Commerce Lunch Reception on the honour of Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak.

Commenting on the initiative, Nazif said: "The objective of this e-government initiative is to provide simpler and faster methods to fulfill standard citizens' requests from various government services' bodies. It also provides the framework to support intra-government collaboration for more timely and accurate information needed to facilitate decision-making.

Microsoft will provide consulting services to support the Egyptian e-government initiatives throughout the duration of this agreement. "Microsoft is committed to support the Government's plan to advance Egypt's progress in the digital economy. The Egyptian e-government team will have access to Microsoft specialists across the world, providing technical support, management feedback and knowledge sharing," Courtois said.

"The agreement is also expected to result in substantial reduction in software piracy rate in Egypt by setting the example and sending a strong message to the local, regional and international community on Egypt's commitment to enforce copyright laws," Nazif commented. Microsoft, founded in 1975, is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. Economic Egyptian-US ties are constantly developing, said Egyptian Minister of Economy and Trade Youssef Butros Ghali.

In an interview with the Voice of America Radio late Tuesday, Ghali said that talks with Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans and Secretary of Treasury Paul O' Neil focused on activating trade. The Egyptian-US trade volume is estimated at $ 4.7 billion of which Egypt exported $ 900 million worth of products in 2000, marking a growth by 40 percent compared to 1999, said Ghali.

On expecting trade and investment agreements during the visit, Ghali said no agreements will be concluded but rather deals with the private sector.

Asked about economic partnership, Ghali said its content is intact as the change would take place only in the form. He described the Egyptian-US partnership as doing good for both countries, noting that this bears in itself the reasons why they should remain intact.

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