After achieving great success, Egypt’s ICT went far beyond realizing profits; it turned to be a catalyst for numerous reforms in other vital sectors. In other words, the relatively new established ICT sector has contributed significantly to lead a quantum leap in the Egyptian economy.
During the past decade, the Egyptian ICT sector has become the key driving engine of the socio-economic development. Deregulation and liberalization policies were undertaken to create suitable environment for the ICT sector and its related industries. Deregulation and privatization measurements encouraged the private sector to play a larger role in the market. Allowing the entrance of new players in the market, liberalization policies gave space for competition and boosting improvements in infrastructure.
The ICT becoming a source of pride was not an easy task. The government formulated an ICT Master Plan in 2000 to ensure the effective deployment and use of ICT for the benefit of all citizens. Such successful ICT Master Plan aimed at building the necessary infrastructure and ensuring the transference of technology and knowhow into Egypt in order to put the bases of the ICT sector.
The success of the latest ICT strategy (2007–2010) establishing strong basis for the ICT sector reflected its steady performance, and led to the growth of the overall economy. Such performance is mirrored by the relatively stable growth rates oscillating between 12% and 15% on average in the past three years.
Additionally, ICT sector’s exports have reached USD1.1 billion by the end of 2010, which come mainly from revenue of the Egyptian outsourcing industry. Egypt managed to become one of the top five outsourcing destinations in the world in 2010.
Egypt is now recognized by international organizations as a global hub in offshoring and outsourcing. The outsourcing industry seems to be a high-profit business, attracting a rising number of competitors from emerging markets.
Hence, it seems finally that innovation combined with increased expertise is the only way to consolidate and sustain Egypt’s continued success in outsourcing.
Thus, the forthcoming period necessitates that Egypt moves to the next level in order to enhance its global competitiveness position in ICT sector, transforming Egypt to the primary regional hub for innovation by 2020.
Under the auspices of MCIT, Egypt’s latest ICT sector strategy (2011-2014) details the road map to widespread innovation culture amongst Egyptian business community and promote the Egyptian potential as a regional hub for innovation and hence, ensuring the expansion of a vibrant, innovative and thus, sustaining ICT sector.
Innovation and entrepreneurship in ICT will be the core of national endeavors to increase competitiveness, create jobs and opportunities, and to enhance Egypt’s overall standard of living and quality of life.
The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy (2011-2014) will focus on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through local ICT companies, attracting international companies to introduce innovation departments in the local industry and finally creating partnerships between Egyptian, regional and international partners abroad.
The new strategy is undertaken by the supervision of the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in Egypt (TIEC) launched in September 2010. The TIEC acts as a center for business leadership and technology creativity and aims at developing technology innovation and promoting the culture of business leadership and entrepreneurship among youth, as well as instilling a culture of innovation and risk-taking within the Egyptian ICT community as key drivers of economic growth. The TIEC works under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework adopted by the government, academia, industry, and NGOs.
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