The projects and programs under the ICT for Learning initiative collectively reflect MCIT’s vision to use information and its underlying technologies to further sustainable human development in Egypt and to build an information society capable of absorbing and capitalizing upon the emerging knowledge revolution.
MCIT seeks to guarantee universal, easy, affordable and rapid access for all Egyptian citizens to ICT, and stimulating awareness of the potential uses and benefits of ICT. In this respect, MCIT has implemented a number of programs with the chief aim of providing benefits to users, promoting computer literacy, and encouraging increased use of ICT by the public.
The Government of Egypt and its Ministry of Health have established several e-Health programs to bring better diagnostic and health services to a wider segment of the Egyptian society. MCIT has facilitated the integration of ICT in health services and the provision of medical education to remote or underserved areas of Egypt. The e-health initiative is inspired by pursuing equal opportunities for health services anywhere in Egypt, and expanding medical insurance to all citizens.
The digital content industry encompasses the creation, design, management and distribution of digital products and services and the technologies that underpin these activities. Egypt places high regard in developing and distributing Arabic e-Content that forms the basis of intellectual and cultural inspiration for future generations. Accordingly, MCIT has led the way to the establishment of an e-content industry in Egypt through its Arabic e-content initiative. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian e-content industry by supporting the production, use and distribution of Arabic digital content on global networks.
Greening ICT, or applying user-friendly policies, has become a dire need. Environment protection is an important issue for human safety, for sustaining social and economic development, and for preserving natural gifts for next generations. ICT tools, widely spread currently, constitute very important potential for protecting environment, creating solutions for decreasing toxic emissions by other sectors.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training works hand in hand with other national projects such as IT Clubs, PC for Every Home, Broadband, and Laptop for Every Professional Initiatives. The national plan is to provide the technological infrastructure, make available all the resources, and develop the skills and knowledge, at an affordable fee and flexible enough to meet needs of the future. ICT training is intended to boost the skills and knowledge of university graduates who despite their specialized education have found themselves without the necessary ICT knowledge needed for the marketplace. It is the conviction of MCIT that the rate of employment in this country will increase dramatically through the acquisition of ICT knowledge and skills. The idea is not in transforming the youth into computer programmers, but in enhancing the young with the various backgrounds and teaching them how to make technology serve their needs and provide solutions. The Government of Egypt has devised programs in cooperation with numerous training institutes to fully meet the needs of the society. The ICT Training project is comprised of two main programs: Basic Training Program and the Specialized Training Program.
Technological development in Egypt is a highly promising and dynamic market. Accordingly, the government is continuously working on providing the optimum investment, legal, and administrative climate to further encourage investors in this field.
Egypt’s continuing success in implementing its initiatives relies heavily on benefiting from and contributing to regional and international developments in ICT. Egypt’s Information Society, October 2005 MCIT’s International Relations sector plays a significant role in triggering and catalyzing mutual cooperation with external stakeholders on the national, regional and international levels. International collaboration can only be realized in close cooperation between all decision-makers and via a broad range of initiatives in policies and practice. MCIT therefore continues to depend on productive cooperation with numerous partners at the national, regional and international levels as well as in numerous states, institutions and organizations all over the world.