The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat visited Assiut Governorate today to open and inspect ICT and postal projects.
During the visit, the ICT Minister and the Governor of Assiut Essam Saad witnessed the signing of four MoUs in several areas. The aim is to train and qualify university graduates in Upper Egypt in software and embedded systems, build digital capacity, achieve sustainable community development and digital institutional development, and promote digital literacy, especially in the villages of the Decent Life initiative for developing the Egyptian countryside, in Assiut.
Furthermore, Talaat held an extensive meeting that brought together officials from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Assiut Governorate, university presidents, and the Chairman of Silicon Waha Adel Danish, at New Assiut Technology Park.
In his remarks, Talaat emphasized that the promising governorate of Assiut hosts local and global ICT companies that cater to the needs of both domestic and global markets. Additionally, numerous startups in Assiut attract investments, bolstering the governorate’s position on the broader ICT industry map, particularly within the IT offshoring sector. This also creates substantial job opportunities for the youth in the governorate.
The ICT Minister highlighted that the ICT projects in Assiut have developmental, societal, and economic impacts, evident in the empowerment of women and girls in the countryside and the creation of job opportunities for youth in their hometownsvillages and regions of Assiutin companies inside and outside Egypt.
Moreover, Talaat explained that the digital capacity-building programs offered by MCIT are diverse and inclusive. The ICT sector, he added, is not restricted solely to engineering and computer science graduates but is also open to people from different backgrounds. MCIT programs also cater to different age groups, including school students, undergraduates, and graduates. Talaat revealed that more than 17,000 young gentlemen and ladies from Assiut benefited from MCIT training initiatives in 2023.
For his part, Assiut Governor clarified that the governorate hosts national projects, particularly within the ICT sector. This is evident in the recent development and national initiatives undertaken in Assiut to enhance utilities and elevate public services. Among the noteworthy projects is the establishment of the New Assiut Technology Park, hosting initiatives that generate job opportunities for the youth and facilitate entry for startups and small enterprises into the rapidly advancing technological landscape. These endeavors receive backing and support from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aligning with the national sustainable development plans.
Saad further emphasized that Assiut embraces national and private initiatives dedicated to nurturing and enhancing the skills of young individuals, enabling them to compete and excel in the labor market while creating new avenues for their success. The governorate also promotes training programs in cutting-edge ICT sciences and initiatives designed for the development of civil society employees. This commitment ensures sustainability and addresses the evolving needs of society and the demands of the labor market.
The first MoU was signed by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Brightskies Inc., and Swift Acttwo leading Egyptian providers of software and embedded system design and development solutions. The MoU aims to foster cooperation in training and qualifying 200 university graduates in Upper Egypt in export-oriented software and embedded systems, and hiring at least 150 of the graduates.
The three parties will conduct training activities and qualify young individuals to meet the demands of the labor market in software and embedded system design. In collaboration with regional tech institutions and universities, the parties will also strive to align academic programs with industry needs to cultivate the necessary skills. This collaboration aims to encourage local and global ICT and electronics companies to expand in Upper Egypt, boost digital services exports, and support the two companies in expanding their business in Assiut.
The first MoU was signed by ITIDA CEO Ahmed Elzaher, Brightskies President Khaled Elamrawi, and Swift Act Co-founder and CEO Mohamed Madbouly.
Elzaher emphasized the significant role that ITIDA plays in developing and indigenizing the IT industry, nurturing innovators, and supporting entrepreneurs in various governorates. He highlighted that ITIDA operates a startup incubator program in Assiut, managed by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC). The program successfully incubated five startups in 2023.
Last year, Elzaher added, ITIDA offered programs and sessions, training around 3,380 students and graduates from Assiut, in addition to over 2,550 graduates of Egypt Future Work is Digital (Egypt FWD). ITIDA also provided support to 47 women entrepreneurs in the governorate. He highlighted that ITIDA collaborates with partners to stimulate the growth of the electronics and value-added services industry through the Electronics Innovation Complex (EIC) in New Assiut Technology Park. Assiut Tech Park houses companies specializing in offshoring, IT, and embedded systems. ITIDA works closely with these companies to enhance the skills of youth in Assiut, and it supports them in expanding operations in the governorate, especially in export-oriented services.
The second MoU is between MCIT and Assiut Governorate, aiming to strengthen cooperation in implementing digital institutional development projects across the governorate’s general bureau, affiliated entities, and service directorates. The collaborative efforts will extend to conducting digital awareness activities for citizens in the governorate, with a particular focus on villages under Decent Life. These efforts aim to promote digital literacy, enhance villagers’ digital capacities, achieve economic empowerment, and improve their overall quality of life.
The Deputy ICT Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib and the Deputy Governor of Assiut Amr Abdel Aal signed the MoU.
Labib highlighted the significant accomplishments and forthcoming initiatives within the collaborative projects linking MCIT and Assiut Governorate in digital institutional development and transformation. She conveyed that MCIT successfully trained and bolstered the digital skills of 769 personnel within the governorate, spanning directorates, districts, and neighboring villages, resulting in the issuance of 816 certificates. Additionally, comprehensive digital capacity-building programs and awareness campaigns were executed for 3,776 citizens across various societal segments, encompassing 6,038 modules aligned with the latest international standards. These endeavors were accomplished through partnerships with esteemed global institutions and specialized companies in the field.
The third MoU, formed between MCIT and Assiut Governorate, focuses on empowering and preparing youth for freelance employment opportunities. The objective is to train 1,000 young individuals from Assiut in Microsoft applications, programming, and AI. This effort also includes supporting 150 women entrepreneurs and artisans and enhancing their skills in utilizing technological solutions for digital marketing and e-commerce through Qodwa Tech and its partnering organizations. Additionally, under the third MoU, training sessions and workshops in digital citizenship and online safety will be provided.
This MoU was signed by the Head of the Central Department of Digital Community Development at MCIT and the Director of the Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development project in Egypt (DT4SDE) Hoda Dahroug and the Deputy Governor of Assiut.
Dahroug highlighted the outcomes of the 2019 bilateral MoU between MCIT and Assiut Governorate. Concluded in 2022, collaborative efforts under that MoU resulted in the enhancement of digital skills for nearly 3,000 citizens in Assiut. Moreover, over 1,050 women were equipped with digital marketing skills to support their small businesses, and awareness among women regarding the importance and advantages of financial inclusion was raised. Additionally, ten new centers of civil society organizations were accredited as providers of Cisco Academy programs, and approximately 1,250 faculty and students at Assiut University received training in digital educational content creation.
The fourth MoU, inked by the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) and Assiut University, involves collaboration in practical training and applied research. According to the agreement, training programs will be implemented to assist individuals in Assiut in acquiring skills for in-demand ICT jobs and preparing for international certifications in various fields, such as embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, cloud computing, mobile communications, and fiber optics, among others. Furthermore, Training of Trainers (TOT) programs will be conducted for academic personnel, employees, and graduates from Assiut University through international academies at NTI. The two entities will also engage in the exchange of scientific expertise and research, as well as organize conferences, sessions, and workshops in related areas.
The MoU was signed by NTI Director Ahmed Khattab and President of Assiut University Ahmed El-Minshawy.
Khattab highlighted NTI activities and initiatives over the past three years. He mentioned that NTI trained over 400 men and women from Assiut through programs such as Digital Egypt Youth (DEY), Egypt Makes Electronics (EME), NTI summer training, Wazeefa Tech, and preparation courses for international certification in networks and telecommunications. He emphasized that the MoU with Assiut University will contribute to expanding the reach of NTI training programs in Assiut, further benefiting a larger number of individuals.
During the meeting, the ICT Minister and the Governor of Assiut listened to success stories of young individuals who excelled in the training programs provided by MCIT and its affiliates. These programs empowered them to align with the demands of the job market, securing meaningful employment opportunities in Assiut, and qualifying them for freelancing. Furthermore, entrepreneurs who own tech startups incubated through MCIT programs showcased the technological solutions their startups bring to the table.
The Advisor to the ICT Minister for Technological Talents Hoda Baraka highlighted the objectives of the Digital Egypt Generations (DEG) initiatives. These programs are specifically designed for young people spanning various age groups, commencing from the fourth grade of primary school through preparatory school, up to the second year of secondary school, as well as undergraduates across diverse majors and graduates aiming to acquire, strengthen, and refine their digital skills. The aim is to enable them to stay abreast of current and future technological advancements, securing enhanced employment opportunities, whether on freelance platforms or within local and global companies.
Baraka highlighted that the Digital Egypt Marvels Initiative (DEMI) has a total of 10,000 learners, with 330 participants from Assiut. The Digital Egypt Cubs Initiative (DECI) currently boasts 19,000 students, including 475 from Assiut. At Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI), the cumulative count of graduates and students is 848, with 33 hailing from Assiut. Additionally, the Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative (DEPI) received a remarkable 33,500 applications, with 797 originating from Assiut.
For her part, the Chairwoman of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) Heba Saleh outlined the institute’s present and future strategies for enhancing the skills of youth in Assiut. She elaborated on ITI initiatives aimed at cultivating the capabilities of youth across various specializations and designing technical programs and tracks. Saleh also highlighted the institute’s efforts to equip the youth of the governorate with the necessary skills to thrive in the freelancing market.
In a similar vein, the ICT Minister held a meeting with several university presidents. Emphasizing the crucial need for integration between the ICT sector and academia, encompassing both schools and universities, he underscored the importance of cultivating technical, soft, and language competencies among the youth, aligning them with the demands of the ICT labor market.
It’s worth mentioning that the ICT Minister is currently on a visit to Assiut Governorate. The itinerary comprises the inauguration of a post office and a visit to the WE Applied Technology School (ATS). Talaat is also scheduled to explore local and global ICT companies, tour the Electronics Innovation Complex (EIC), and visit the mobile phone manufacturer, SICO Technology.
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