Egypt Secures Major New Tie-ups and Investment From HP,CISCO and Motorola

CAIRO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Recent Investment and Commitments From HP, Cisco and Motorola Reinforce Strength of Egypt's ICT Sector

• Hewlett-Packard (HP) and ITIDA sign MoU providing world-class training to Egyptian hardware companies
• Cisco invests $10million to seed sustainable job creation and economic growth in Egypt
• Motorola expands regional operations in Egypt

Egypt continues to prove its appeal as a leading outsourcing destination, with substantial commitments from multinationals pledging continued support as the country moves forward.

Hewlett-Packard (HP), the world's largest technology company, and Egypt's Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide world-class training to Egyptian hardware companies and increase their competitive advantages. The MoU aims to assist Egyptian companies in training to help grow their businesses, impart key skills to employees and in the wider talent pool, and increase their footprint in local and regional markets.

Commenting on the MoU, Yasser ElKady, ITIDA CEO said: "This MoU is a clear testament to our commitment to support all segments of the IT industry in Egypt. While our endeavours in positioning Egypt as one of the key outsourcing destinations have yielded significant results, we are keen on extending all the necessary support to the Egyptian hardware companies and we are positive that this training, along with other initiatives will have considerable impact."

The MoU signed between ITIDA and HP was accompanied by news of a major new investment from Cisco. Cisco has announced that it will invest $10 million to seed a sustainable model of job creation and economic development in Egypt. The venture capital investment targets high-potential small businesses that provide innovative products and services.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Magued Osman said: "The Egyptian government recognizes that properly functioning telecoms and IT infrastructure is essential for attracting foreign investment and enabling the private sector and government to function more efficiently. The government's aim is for Egypt to become an IT hub, providing IT-assisted teleservices to foreign companies. This $10 million investment will help us promote economic development, leading to enhanced opportunities for the people of Egypt."

John Chambers, Chairman and CEO of Cisco, said: "We believe there is tremendous growth potential in Egypt's ICT sector and are committed to supporting Egypt's - as well as MENA's - long-term goals. It is therefore appropriate for Cisco to make this investment into the Egyptian economy and its people."

Olaf Krahmer, President of Cisco Egypt, continued: "Job creation and the chance for greater opportunities are of clear importance to Egyptian citizens. Through this investment, Cisco is demonstrating its commitment to assisting the people of Egypt to begin to invest in meeting these needs,"

A further development was the announcement by Motorola Solutions Inc. to open a key office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in Cairo, Egypt. Strategic expansion in Egypt will help Motorola deliver its leading mission-critical communication products and services directly to Egyptian customers but also to many other customers outside of the country as the Cairo base of operations becomes established as the newest Regional Engineering Centre.

Overall, Egypt remains a major IT destination, with many multinationals including Google, IBM and Valeo having established a significant presence in Egypt over the last year.

About ITIDA:

The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) is a governmental entity affiliated to Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.  It is responsible for growing and developing Egypt's position as a leading global outsourcing location by attracting foreign direct investment to the industry and maximizing the exports of IT services and applications.

Located in the heart of the modern business environment at Smart Village, the six hundred acre business park on the outskirts of Cairo, ITIDA is a self sustainable entity that drives the IT industry in Egypt and raises awareness among the Egyptian people of the benefits and use of ICT to advance socio-economic welfare of the whole community.

Ahmed Reda - Media & Communication Manager - Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) - T: +202-534-51-85 - E: areda@itida.gov.eg & Rob Foyle - Hill & Knowlton - T: +44-20-7413-3512 - E: rob.foyle@hillandknowlton.com