Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Communications and Information Technology Minister Yaser el-Qady met with the CEO of Microsoft Corporation Satya Nadella on Tuesday.
The officials discussed the most promising areas of cooperation with the company in Egypt, including an initiative to support technology-based education for Egyptian youth and an initiative for the development of electronic industries. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched both initiatives during the Cairo International Communications Conference in November 2015.
The ministers also discussed the possibility of Microsoft's contribution to promoting e-commerce in Egypt, especially given that e-commerce now represents a large percentage of the volume of world trade and is experiencing steady growth.
They discussed establishing a technological base for the development of the small and medium enterprises sector, as part of the presidency's efforts to develop an integrated system for the development of small and medium enterprises. The project aims to make a quantum leap in the activity of small- and medium-size enterprises and to open new markets for them locally, regionally and globally through export through modern e-commerce means, in addition to employing youth and training them.
The project aims as well to provide technical and economic advice to small and medium companies and to provide solutions and e-commerce tools for the launch of a map and a comprehensive investment database for the sector, in addition to providing funding packages.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
