Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt on Its Way to Becoming Regional Center for Digital Services

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the General Division for total value of sales of smart phones is about EGP 40bn per year.
Communications, Electronic Payments, and Financial Services Furthermore, he said that the mobile phone market witnessed a
at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce in Egypt major slow-down over the last period, as imports declined due to
(FEDCOC) — praised the political leadership’s role in transforming several global crises He stressed that the policies of international
Egypt into a regional center for digital services. He also hailed the companies have changed in favor of making Egypt an export hub
efforts of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in inviting international to Africa, which has about 1.5 billion consumers. Additionally, Said
companies to establish a presence in Egypt, along with fostering indicated that a number of other international companies will soon
local manufacturing and localizing industry. This was evident in begin manufacturing in Egypt, pointing out that the state plans to
his continuous directives to the government, in addition to his transform Egypt into a major manufacturing hub for electronic
sponsorship and adoption of the ‘Egypt Manufactures Electronics products and home appliances.
Initiative.’ Said added that the unprecedented investment incentives
and tax and customs exemptions on production components
and raw materials prompted two of the largest international
companies — Nokia and Vivo — to manufacture their products in
Egypt, which will generate job opportunities for Egyptians, which
the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
qualified after creating a new promising generation of skilled
workers. He explained that the localization of the electronics
industry and its supplies is among the priorities of the state and
the ministry, stressing that manufacturing about 1.5m mobile
phones in Egypt annually will lead to reducing shipping costs
and imports for these strategic products for citizens, in addition
to preserving the country’s stock of USD. Said also pointed out
that Egypt is a promising and large market that boast 100 million
mobile phone users. He explained that the volume of investments
in the mobile market in Egypt exceeds EGP 100bn annually, and the

PTA, A4A1 Workshop Underscores Importance of Gender Inclusion in ICTs

and Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication
(MoIT&T) were engaging with global and regional organizations
for improving digital gender gap in Pakistan. At the event,
Chairman PTA said that PTA was committed to ensure access
to all and improve digital gender inclusion in ICTs in Pakistan. It
is striving to develop a digital strategy that brings together key
stakeholders of gender mainstreaming in Pakistan. The highlight
of the event was the session on ‘Women Leading the Tech’
chaired by Chairperson Competition Commission of Pakistan,
Rahat Kunain Hassan and eminent Pakistani female leaders as
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration panelists. The panelists included: Founder & CEO, Katalyst Labs,
with Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) organized a Digital Jehan Ara; Country Head – Code for Pakistan, Samina Rizwan;
Gender Sensitization workshop that focused on gender inclusion Executive Director, Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE),
in ICTs and facilitating digital empowerment of women in Pakistan. Ms. Fajer Rabia Pasha and CEO National Forum of Women with
Additional Secretary (Incharge) IT&T Mohsin Mushtaq was the chief Disabilities in Pakistan (NFWWD), Abia Akram. The panelists
guest on this occasion whereas Chairman PTA, Major General (R) stressed on creating conducive environment that give women the
Amir Azeem Bajwa; Member C&E PTA Dr. Khawar Sidique Khokhar, support to excel and consequently propel the growth of the entire
senior officers from Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), CEOs of technology ecosystem. UNESCO Consultant presented on robust
USF, Ignite, Jazz and representatives from mobile operators & strategy development for digital inclusion. During the workshop,
members of international organizations, and civil society attended emphasis was given on inclusive policy reforms and multisectoral
the event, a news release said. Speaking at the event, the chief collaborations towards the objective of bridging the digital gender
guest appreciated PTA’s proactive and inclusive approach towards divide.
digital gender connectivity. He said that Government of Pakistan

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