Egypt is the leading country in North Africa in the use of information technologies for governance. The Information Decision Support Center that was established in 1985 was instrumental in establishing electronic government as early as 1990. Egypt launched its National Information Highway programme to support and energize its socio-economic development as early as 1994. Egypt was also one of the countries that recognized the need for highly skilled human resources development as early as 1992. The Regional Information Technology and Software Engineering Center (RITSEC) was established in 1992 to support and develop the information communication technology industry and infrastructure in Egypt.

The establishment of the Ministry for Telecommunications and Information in 1999 provided further impetus towards development of broad-based information society plans and programmes. Among the key programmes that were launched by the Ministry was the National Plan for Information and Telecommunications Development based on studies conducted by international consulting houses and business consortiums affiliated with the telecommunications and information sector.

Egypt has since embarked on a number of projects that aim at improving the ICT industry and advancing universal access to information and communication and the creation of jobs. Among the key projects of the national telecommunication plans are: electronic government programme that aim to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ministries and public institutions; establishment of free zones and ICT parks; incentives to private sector particularly in software development and export and the creation of enabling policy environment for telecommunications and Internet services industry. Youth and community development programmes, comprehensive human resource development strategies targeting research and young people, information society awareness programmes for the public and increasing number of public access centres and reduction of cost of access to information and communication services are other aspects of the programme.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology was formed to ease Egypt's transition into the global information society. The ministry coordinates the efforts of different governmental entities with each other and the private industry. In its efforts to translate into a reality the goal of creating an Egyptian Information Society, MCIT proposed the “National Plan for Communications and Information Technology”. The plan is Egypt's blueprint for the future, mapping out projects aimed to achieve successive leaps in the ICT sector; its global positioning, exports record, and its creation of job opportunities for the country’s youth.

The main objectives of the Egyptian National Communications and Information Technology (CIT) Plan are:

• Create a vibrant and exportable CIT industry

• Support the development of a state-of-the-art national telecommunications network that provides an enabling environment for business and electronically links Egypt with the rest of the world.

• Increase employment opportunities in the communications and information technology sectors

• Build an information society capable of absorbing and benefiting from expanding sources of information

• Develop and upgrade CIT systems to improve standards of living and support competitiveness in international CIT market

AISI  |  ECA's Harnessing ICTs for Development   |  Country Profiles  |   Web Resources  |   NICI Terminology   |    African Governments on the Internet   |   Events Calendar

Copyright  © 1999-2005 Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
For comments and suggestions related to this web page, contact the webmaster