Dr. Salem: ICT Cooperation between Egypt and Uganda Has a Strategic Dimension to Both Countries

Ugandan Minister: We Seek to Benefit from the Distinguished Egyptian Expertise in Fields of Training and Capacity Building

Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Mohamed Salem, and his Ugandan counterpart, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda signed today a framework agreement in ICT between Egypt and Uganda.

The agreement comes within the framework of the implementation of the international cooperation section of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) strategy targeting African markets and enhancing cooperation with African governments to unify visions and interests for the benefit of all.

This agreement reflects the eagerness of the two countries to support mutual partnerships and business ventures. It also encourages research and development in the fields of infrastructure, technology capacity building, heritage documentation and other various fields in ICT industry and related services.

The five-year agreement, subject to renewal, also ascertains both countries aspiration to encourage mutual investments, and to cooperate in expanding and developing ICT markets.

In his speech at the signing ceremony, Dr. Mohamed Salem states that Egypt is keen to build strong relations with the African countries. This is through opening more communication channels, as well as defining consensual targets and regulatory frameworks that bring together common interests of all parties to the benefit of the African countries.

According to Dr. Salem, ties between Egypt and Uganda are historical and represent strategic dimension for both countries.

Regarding the capacity building activities through IT programs, serious efforts are exerted to activate cooperation with the Ugandan side.

The Information Technology Institute (ITI) affiliated to MCIT, offers technical support for about 3 thousands of Ugandan young people who are selected by the Ugandan side according to the Egyptian ITI standards.

Upon the request of the President of the Republic of Uganda in his meeting with MCIT delegation during the last visit to Uganda, these young people are trained on outsourcing industry and IT export across borders.

The IT programs are executed in Uganda, with the collaboration of the Ugandan Merkerere University following the recognition of the successful Egyptian experience in this field.

Moreover, the two sides have agreed on transferring the Egyptian expertise and knowledge to the personnel of the Ugandan Merkerere University in order to train their students and graduates in various technology majors in the field of outsourcing.

In addition, the Ugandan side relies on the Egyptian expertise to train the staff at Merkerere’s College of computing and information sciences, while integrating the contents of these programs in the college.

As for documenting the cultural heritage of Uganda, both Egyptian and Ugandan sides agreed that cooperation should encompass providing IT training in cultural heritage documentation.

The two parties also agreed to exchange best practices to develop a multi-lingual e-portal representing the Ugandan heritage in Arabic, English, French and any other universal language to be agreed upon. This matches the Uganda golden Jubilee scheduled in October 2012.

The Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT) is participating, with the concerned parties, in selecting a group of natural sites as well as Ugandan cultural heritage models to be integrated in the content of Ugandan landmark digitization project.

Furthermore, the two sides agreed on the importance of supporting the Ugandan national center to respond to emergency communications.

This is achieved through benefiting from the distinguished Egyptian expertise in the field of speedy detection and prevention of cyberspace incidents as well as countering threats on Internet.

The Ugandan side also requested cooperation and coordination with the Egyptian side in implementing the information system for Uganda Technology Park project.

This project aims at creating suitable environment to encourage opportunities of creativity, innovation and business development in Uganda. Cooperation is to occur through providing technical support and the required distinguished Egyptian expertise in this field.

In October 2011, the Egyptian government launched the biggest Egyptian-African project in human development, capacities and skills building, and development of specialized African ICT calibers.

The first phase of the project, which lasts for two months, includes the participation of delegations from Nile basin countries in training sessions at the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) and the Information Technology Institute (ITI).

This includes providing training on 50-60 specialized programs selected and identified by the African countries. Moreover, the project aims at providing training to around 3 thousands specialists throughout the year.