The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has witnessed the signing of contracts for the design and development of cutting-edge CPE-VDSL router peripherals between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Telecom Egypt, and the project-implementing winning Egyptian tech companies.
This comes within the framework of propelling endeavors toward developing the electronics industry through the Egypt Makes Electronics (EME) presidential initiative, which aims to deepen local manufacturing and reduce electronics imports.
The project is implemented through the collaboration between ITIDA and Telecom Egypt to design and manufacture high-speed Internet CPE routers within Egypt. This aims to address Telecom Egypt’s local and regional demands by leveraging local manufacturing capabilities.
A call for proposals was launched to select up to three Egyptian companies to carry out the project. The selected proposals were those submitted by El Sewedy Electrometer Group (EMG), Elaraby Group, and the BioBusiness and HitekNOFAL OPTIX alliance.
The contracts were signed by ITIDA CEO Ahmed Elzaher, Telecom Egypt Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Nasr, and officials from the selected companies, including EMG Chairman and CEO Emad Zaki El Sewedy, the Vice Chairman of Elaraby Holding for Financial Investments Mamdouh Mahmoud El-Araby, BioBusiness CEO Mostafa El Wakeel, and HitekNOFAL OPTIX CEO Mohamed Nofal.
The ICT Minister underscored that the signing of the contracts signifies a significant leap forward in fostering partnerships and cooperation with the private sector, particularly with leading companies in both the Egyptian market overall and the ICT sector specifically. This collaboration is a pivotal component of ongoing efforts to position Egypt as a regional hub for electronics design and manufacturing. Moreover, it aims to promote the indigenization of the telecom equipment and electronics manufacturing industry by enhancing self-sufficiency in the local market for CPE routers, thereby aiding in the reduction of imports.
Talaat said that he looked forward to more partnerships with the private sector in electronics design and manufacturing. He pointed out that several agreements were signed recently with manufacturers of smartphones and electronics, reflecting the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s (MCIT) dedication to indigenizing the electronics industry and achieving added value.
For his part, Elzaher highlighted that the collaboration emphasizes ITIDA commitment to developing the IT industry by carrying out programs aimed at identifying and addressing local industry needs and promoting investment in the ICT and electronics sectors with specialized companies. Under the contracts, Elzaher explained, ITIDA will cooperate with the winning companies to design a custom-tailored high-quality and cost-effective Egyptian product for the local market, helping boost the electronics industry in Egypt.
In his remarks, Nasr highlighted that Telecom Egypt is proud to be part of this initiative, which marks a significant stride towards developing and indigenizing the electronics industry in Egypt while strengthening local capabilities in designing and manufacturing telecom equipment. Through the project, Telecom Egypt will manufacture CPE-VDSL router peripherals, contributing to an enhanced telecom experience for its customers and better meeting their needs, Nasr stated. He added that Telecom Egypt will cooperate with ITIDA and local partners to ensure a successful project, achieve the desired results, and attain self-sufficiency in this vital sector.
Nasr expressed Telecom Egypt’s enthusiasm for delivering advanced and innovative solutions that meet customers’ expectations, solidify the company’s position as a strategic partner for companies and institutions in Egypt, and contribute to retaining its leadership in the telecom industry in Egypt and the region. He stressed Telecom Egypt’s full support for the development of the local ICT industry and initiatives, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to enhance the ICT infrastructure in Egypt.
El Sewedy explained that EMG specializes in smart and digital meter research and development (R&D) and manufacturing. He added that this project is a milestone in the company’s journey to widen its scope and start manufacturing telecom equipment. Additionally, El Sewedy said that his company has a workforce capable of designing and developing high-value products. EMG is implementing a smart router design and manufacturing project in the New Administrative Capital, he further stated.
El-Araby conveyed his contentment with the partnership, emphasizing its alignment with Elaraby Group’s vision of prioritizing R&D to design products that meet market demands. He underscored that this collaboration exemplifies a successful public-private partnership (PPP) model aimed at maximizing desired outcomes.
Nofal noted that HitekNOFAL operates as a manufacturing facility specializing in fiber optic cabling solutions, with a focus on developing locally made products. He elaborated that the CPE-VDSL router peripherals project presents an opportunity for the company to further its local manufacturing capabilities and bolster support for fiber optic networks, which are integral to Egypt’s telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, he emphasized that the project serves as a gateway to markets in Africa and the Middle East. Nofal also mentioned that his company has collaborative projects with Telecom Egypt.
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