Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

97% Mobile Phones Used by Pakistanis Built Locally

97 percent of the mobile phones used localization of solar panels. The government demand, he continued, “It was important
by Pakistanis are made domestically, is establishing a comprehensive policy for to seek for alternatives to promote and
according to Almas Haider, Chairman the solar business, according to federal incentivize local manufacturing of solar
of the Engineering Development Board minister for industries and production panels and related equipment. The Minister
(EDB). Except for one brand, all mobile Murtaza Mehmood. This policy calls for the stated that by reducing charges and taxes
phones are made in-country. At a session conversion of agricultural tube wells and on imported solar panels, Pakistan could
on alternative energy sources hosted by public buildings to solar power. A federal begin the process of local manufacture
the EDB and titled “Solar panel and allied Minister noted that a national evaluation with assembly in the first phase. Pakistan
equipment production policies,” he made indicated that Pakistan’s demand for also has stockpiles of essential raw
the comments. A $1.25 million order for solar energy (including off-grid and on- materials for producing solar wafers. After
the first batch of mobile phones to be grid) was expected to be approximately 4 that, he said that a 5-year plan was required
exported has been placed with EDB, he GW in 2022 and to rise to about 6-7 GW in to further streamline the tax and tariff
added. He stated that EDB is engaged in the the following two years. With such a high system in order to give local manufacturers
a level playing field. According to him, the
current administration wants to encourage
the country’s move towards solar energy
by providing incentives like tax breaks
and the duty-free import of equipment
and plants. Furthermore, according to
Murtaza Mehmood, Pakistan’s solar sector
cannot compete with that of China since
solar panels are produced there more
cheaply. He urged the private sector to be
competitive in the global marketplace while
stating that the government is focused on
removing barriers for regional businesses.

LIPTC Signs Agreement with Cisco

Libya’s state telecoms holding company, comes for the purpose of accessing telecommunications services through the
LIPTC, signed an agreement with the the highest technologies that benefit Holding Company as well as its subsidiaries,
American ITC giant Cisco. The agreement the telecommunications sector in the whether for mobile services, Internet
included several points, the most important Libyan market, and providing the highest services and connectivity networks.
of which are:
1. Implementation of digital transformation
and data automation projects in joint
cooperation between the two companies
in order to develop a specific plan and
timetable for the implementation of
these projects.
2. Identifying some projects to achieve the
2025 vision of the holding company:
smart citizen, smart companies, smart
cities, smart countries; As well as
promoting the services provided by
telecommunications companies to all
Libyan sectors.
3. Training specialists on the latest
developments of Cisco, by providing the
Libyan Academy of Communications
and Informatics for accredited training
courses.
LIPTC said this strategic agreement

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