ITIDA announced an open call for local IT outsourcing small- and medium-enterprises to apply for the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI)’s project. It is a 3-year program that aims to support ITO SMEs on their export journey to the EU countries. CBI’s ITO project offers technical assistance through practical business export coaching. Egyptian enterprises can combine knowledge, skills and resources to improve their export potential and reduce risks of entering Europe’s market.
For 3 years, global and local experts will coach and assist beneficiary SMEs to devise market entry strategies. In addition, guidance and advice on certification types relevant to their strategies will be given. CBI’s ITO project helps applicant companies enhance their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It also provides market orientation support, and export business opportunities.
“CBI’s export coaching program is among a set of actions that help achieve our ambitious strategy aiming at tripling the size of Egypt’s BPO and ITO exports over the next five years,” ITIDA CEO, Amr Mahfouz said.
“The program targets small- or medium-sized enterprises (SME) and women-led companies in Egypt offering Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) services, interested in an improved market position in the EU, and want to contribute to an enhanced ecosystem for SMEs,” Mahfouz explained.
CBI detailed a number of requirements for applying companies including: an SME must be at least 50% or more locally owned or has a local management structure; and employs at least 10 FTEs and maximum of 250 FTEs.
SMEs applicants should also have been active in the IT Outsourcing industry for at least 3 to 4 years; have no joint venture with a company based in a non-developing country; and no licensing commitments that prohibit or limit the export of products to the European Union. Management of applying companies should also be able to communicate in English. The deadline for completing the application form is 31 January 2022.
CBI is to finance most project costs. Participants will only bear the cost of travel expenses for European market entry activities; investment in product offers, employees, and certification.
The program comes within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) of The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs with The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the Chamber of Information Technology and Communications (CIT), Eitesal Association and Nile University (NU), to launch its comprehensive program to develop the export capabilities of the Egyptian IT SMEs.
For more information, visit IT Outsourcing Egypt project by CBI.
