The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has witnessed the
signing of a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
and Microsoft to enhance cooperation in incubating startups, promoting tech innovation, and supporting and training
entrepreneurs through the company’s flagship program Microsoft for Startups.
Through the MoU, Microsoft and ITIDA’s Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC) will cooperate in
four areas, including supporting 100 startups and helping maintain their sustainable growth through providing them
with Microsoft Azure cloud services, at an estimated value of $3 million. This is in addition to providing startups
with technical support and empowerment, technical consultation, communication opportunities with Microsoft experts,
assistance in reaching clients, training on market penetration strategies, and assistance in landing
investors.
The two sides will also cooperate to train 500 entrepreneurs from different governorates, in technology
specializations, and introduce them to startup growth best practices and market penetration strategies.
Relevantly, Microsoft will collaborate with ITIDA to enrich the content in EgyptInnovate platform, and to create a
space for startups and training, under the name Microsoft Space, at Creativa Innovation Hub in Sultan Hussein Kamel
Palace, where the SkillsLab program will be implemented, providing digital skills and international certification
hands-on training.
During the signing ceremony, the ICT Minister underlined that the MoU open new opportunities for cooperation with
Microsoft Egypt, which reflects MCIT keenness to establish partnerships with specialized international companies to
develop the IT industry in Egypt.
Talaat added that the areas of cooperation include implementing initiatives to promote entrepreneurship among young
people nationwide, in a way that helps them find non-traditional jobs in the local and global labor markets, in
advanced IT areas.
This is in addition to supporting creative thinking among youth to develop innovative technological solutions to the
challenges facing the Egyptian society. The cooperation also involves carrying out an initiative to incubate IT
startups, which is a matter of great interest to MCIT, and one of the pillars of boosting the national
economy.
ITIDA’s Vice President and TIEC Chairperson Hossam Osman, and Arif signed the MoU.
For her part, Arif stated that Microsoft is proud to cooperate with MCIT, and always seeks to upskill young people
and develop human competencies to build Digital Egypt, in a way that helps transform Egypt into a regional ICT
hub.
The past period, Arif said, has proven that digital transformation is not just an asset for enhancing
competitiveness, but has become a key factor in business continuity and operational flexibility. She added that
Microsoft contributes to building digital capabilities and enhancing employability to empower Egyptians to harness
the power of technology in entirely new ways and transform the country into a real and inclusive digital
society.
Furthermore, Arif highlighted that Microsoft cooperates closely with government and industry leaders to promote
technological innovation and significantly contribute to achieving progress through infrastructure, job creation,
education, skills, youth empowerment, capacity building and job creation, along with its philanthropic initiatives,
to make a difference in society.
Arif added that Microsoft's partnership with the Egyptian government within Tamayoz program comes in the company’s
commitment to promote the use of technology among institutions in Egypt, and to provide hope and opportunity for
every Egyptian citizen through technological innovation. The company's mission is to empower every organization and
individual to achieve more, Arif stated, underlining her company’s eagerness to harness the power of technology and
Microsoft diverse solutions to create a brighter future for Egypt.
