Page 74 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

and markets He pointed out that the that six new training centers will be social level,” he added. Ahmed Sarhan,
implementation of the project in Port Said established, bringing the total to 12 Chairperson of the Committee on
and Gharbia governorates are just the first centers. Regarding innovation and Communications and Information
stage, with plans to expand to all technology projects, the minister said that Technology said that digital transformation
governorates within 24 months. Talaat the telecommunications sector produced is an important tool for economic growth
pointed out that the application of the 1,500 new companies last year, and that and is no longer a luxury or choice. Digital
project and its circulation will provide an major foreign companies have taken over transformation has positive economic and
information map on agriculture in Egypt nine of them, noting that Egypt became the social effects and is a locomotive for
and will better handle the encroachment of second fastest growing economy in the economic growth and can achieve state
agricultural land and reduce wrong Middle East last year, of which 4% comes plans and objectives, he added. Sarhan
practices in obtaining government support from the communication sector, up from noted that the automation of government
unlawfully. He added that the project of 3.2% contribution to GDP last year, with procedures has a positive effect in
restructuring the tax system is being plans to reach 8% in three years. The facilitating access to services for citizens,
implemented in cooperation with the minister reviewed the second axis of improving the efficiency of services,
Ministry of Communications and the Egypt’s digital strategy, which aims to reducing bureaucracy, assisting the
Ministry of Finance and aim to achieve tax develop the health and education sectors government in combating corruption, and
justice and discipline for the tax along with youth training on digital can create a real database that contributes
community. This newfound tax structure transformation. He explained that the use to drawing development and investment
will expand the tax payer base without of contemporary smart technology and plans on real and realistic bases. He
burdening the taxpayers, thus increasing applications have become a key element in stressed the importance of national
tax revenues. In regard with increasing the increasing an individual’s competitiveness companies and the Egyptian youth entering
internet speed in Egypt, Talaat said that the for a job. He revealed the most important digital transformation projects and
volume of investments allocated to feature in the grand scheme of the project automating state procedures. Egyptian
improve speeds have reached $1.6bn, is the construction of the city of knowledge companies have the opportunity to be
adding that the average internet speed in that will be built on an area of more than influential, industrial, and participate in all
Egypt will reach 20Mbps by the end of this 200 feddan in the new administrative components and stages of the digital
year, compared to 17.75Mbps currently, capital. The first phase includes the transformation projects. Khaled Hegazy,
and will increase to 40Mbps by the end of establishment of four technology CEO of Etisalat Misr Corporate Sector, said
2020. He stressed that his ministry is buildings. Fathallah Fawzy, President of that digital transformation has gained
working in cooperation with the Ministry of the ELBA, affirmed the Egyptian people’s great importance for Egypt with the launch
Youth and Sports to develop youth centers solidarity with Lebanon in their march to of the economic reform program and other
scattered around the country, which is reform, stability, and prosperity. Fawzy giant national projects. He stressed that
estimated to be about 4,000 youth centers. said that the technological revolution and the private sector is looking forward to
This will better help the country train and digital transformation in Egypt is the achieving real integration with the
create the next generation to keep pace largest step in its overall and government and is encouraging
with technological advancements and deal comprehensive reform process, which partnership with various government
with various applications. Talaat explained started after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi entities to enable itself and the Egyptian
that the ministry is looking to connect fiber assuming the presidency years ago “We youth to play their role in digital
optic cables to 100 centers by the end of see the results ourselves in the digital transformation projects and provide new
the year. He added that the ministry has transformation and the great leap in ideas to provide digital services to citizens
trained 4,000 young people in fiscal year digitization and the use of technological in various fields.
2017/16 and 13,000 last year, and plans to applications in advanced technological
train 25,000 youth this fiscal year, noting programs, whether on the economic or

Al Madar Switches on 5G Services

Libyan cellular operator Almadar Aljaded of a trial network capable of speeds up to also extended its LTE-A ‘4G+’ service, first
(Al Madar), the country’s second largest 1.5Gbps. The company has said the service launched in January 2018, to the cities of
mobile network operator (MNO) by will initially be available in the country’s Qaminis, Kufra and Marj in recent weeks.
subscribers, has announced the launch of main cities by 2020, before eventually
5G services following successful testing being rolled out nationwide. Al Madar has

74 OCTOBER 2019