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An ECA-sponsored study on the relationship between ICT and economic growth has revealed significant impacts on the Egyptian economy, according to Egyptian researcher Dr Nagwa El-Shenawy.
She was presenting the findings of the study, financed by the Government of Canada under the Global ePolicy Resource Network (ePol-NET). The report, presented to stakeholders from the ICT and trade sectors in the country, found that the contribution of Egypt's ICT sector exceeds three percent of GDP.
During the roundtable discussion, participants called on the Egyptian Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) to conduct an awareness campaign on the Egyptian e-signature law, as 37% of the surveyed enterprises still cited the lack of a legal framework as one of the difficulties faced in rolling out e-commerce in Egypt.
Participants also stated the importance of using mobile communication as a potential tool for trade. This was in response to the finding that only 33% of the surveyed enterprises used mobile phones for trade purposes, while 96% had fixed line telephones, 65% a fax and 63% computer. Comments also indicated that the e-commerce environment was moving to an m-commerce environment.
The study on the impact of ICT in trade and economic growth in Egypt is part of a series undertaken in six countries, within the framework of ISTD's e-Trade Initiative. This national round table is the third aimed at getting feedback from stakeholders to come up with a final report as well as ideas on follow up activities. Two similar round tables were held in Kenya and Ethiopia in February 2007 while another two will be held at the end of June in Ghana and Senegal, with the final round table in South Africa at the end of July.
Contacts: Assefa Bahta ( assefab@uneca.org ) and Mohamed Timoulali (mtimoulali@uneca.org)
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