Egypt has regional, int’l leadership in outsourcing – Minister

Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said Egypt is enjoying regional and international leadership in outsourcing industry and IT services.

The minister said Egypt is a prominent destination for investment in outsourcing and IT services because of its competitive advantages, most notably the availability of an enabling climate for investment, and skilled people, IT service providers, who speak different languages. Efforts are now focused on increasing governmental investments of the IT sector in the coming Fiscal Year with up to 22 per cent growth rate, according to the minister.

Talaat said in remarks as he was inaugurating the main branch of Webhelp, a global outsourcing services company in Egypt that his ministry is keen on doing business in human capital and promoting competitive capabilities of youth by implementing a technical training strategy, whose budget has been doubled 22 times in three years to LE1.1 billion from LE50 million.

This new branch is the largest Webhelp’s branch worldwide. It was equipped with investments, which exceed LE250 million as part of the company’s plans to expand its investments in exporting outsourcing services to Egypt, according to the minister.

The measure is showing that the IT sector is attracting further foreign investments to Egypt, given the fact the country is a pioneering destination in offering outsourcing services globally, added the minister.

Webhelp CEO Olivier Duha said Egypt is a most important attracting market in outsourcing services and the company has laid down several plans to develop its activities in Cairo.

Meanwhile, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and Webhelp had signed an agreement with the objective to expand the company’s business in Egypt, contributing to the creation of 4,800 new jobs of highly qualified specialists to provide outsourcing services to the company’s customers worldwide.

The three-year agreement is part of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) strategy, aims to increase the volume of Egyptian exports of IT products and services through strengthening Egypt’s position on the global map of cross-border outsourcing and IT services and attracting more foreign investments to this sector, contributing to the creation of intensive jobs for Egyptian youth in this field.

He said that ITIDA will carry out an initiative to train young people in different governorates in foreign languages, most notably Deutsch and French, to meet the needs of the growing number of outsourcing companies of talent and competencies.

Webhelp is one of the world’s leaders in customer service, operating in 48 countries, with 70,000 employees. The company’s branch in Egypt offers tele sales, technical support and call center services to Webhelp customers around the world.