The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat, the Minister of Education and Technical Education Reda Hegazy, and the Governor of New Valley Mohamed Salman Al Zamlot opened, today, Creativa Innovation Hub in Kharga.
The Hub has been established within the framework of the cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and New Valley Governorate and MCIT plan to deploy Creativa Innovation Hubs nationwide to build youth capabilities and promote technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
This came as part of the ICT Minister’s visit to New Valley Governorate to open and inspect various MCIT projects. MCIT prepared and equipped the Hub in New Valley with technological infrastructure, computers, and computer accessories to implement various training plans, programs, and services.
During the opening ceremony, Talaat attended a presentation on the role of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) as part of the New Valley Hub’s activities.
The programs offered by the Hub have been designed in line the cultural and economic background of people in the governorate. The programs include e-marketing to promote the governorate’s products; new and renewable energy technology to serve the governorate’s projects and needs for a talent pool specialized in this field; and infrastructure and technical support to serve as a main pillar for all new projects in the governorate.
The ICT Minister also met with several young people who received the ITI scholarship for training on the basics of renewable energy and the Internet of Things (IoT).
In a similar vein, the ICT Minister and the Governor of New Valley opened the geoportal in the governorate’s general bureau and also inspected MCIT work to connect the June 30 Government Complex to the New Administrative Capital. He called for opening a post office in the complex as soon as possible, installing a fiber-optic cable, and finalizing it within two days to provide high-speed internet in the office.
Following the opening, the ICT Minister participated in a meeting organized in the governorate’s general bureau, which was attended by several members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and senior officials from the governorate’s general bureau.
During the meeting, Talaat indicated that numerous projects are being implemented in New Valley, reflecting various pillars of MCIT strategy. The projects include developing the digital infrastructure, including fixed broadband, mobile Internet and telecommunications services, and post offices.
Talaat also pointed out that 18 cell towers have been established in the governorate. He added that 70 more cell towers will be established this year and all villages and towns of the governorate will have network coverage. A study is underway to cover the different roads leading to the governorate.
Talaat revealed that 40 out of 48 post offices in New Valley have been developed and equipped with 41 ATMs. He added that within the framework of implementing ICT projects in the villages targeted within Decent Life in the governorate, 12 out of 26 villages have had fiber-optic cables, enabling Internet access. Meanwhile, programs are also being implemented to train villagers of Decent Life on digital skills.
The ICT Minister explained that MCIT is implementing programs and projects to prepare a digital talent pool in New Valley and qualify people to compete in the labor market through NTI and ITI training programs. He underlined that programs are being implemented to build the capacities of employees at the state administrative apparatus from New Valley.
The ICT Minister pointed out that a project is being implemented to develop health services for the citizens of the governorate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. He highlighted that 11 telemedicine units have been introduced to provide medical services by specialized doctors in various medical specialties, to the citizens of the governorate to ease their access to services without the need to travel to central hospitals in main cities.
Furthermore, Talaat and Al Zamlot witnessed the signing of an MoU between MCIT and New Valley Governorate on cooperation in implementing digital institutional development projects in the governorate’s general bureau, subordinate entities, and service directorates, and carrying out digital awareness activities to develop the digital capabilities of disadvantaged families to economically empower them, thus providing a decent life.
The MoU was signed by the Deputy ICT Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib and the Deputy Governor of New Valley Hanan Magdy.
During the meeting, the most prominent achievements and future plans in the projects implemented in cooperation between MCIT and the Governorate in digital institutional development and digital transformation in New Valley were reviewed.
It is worth noting that MCIT has exerted efforts to promote digital institutional development in New Valley Governorate to create a new model that helps ensure sustainability of digital transformation and build a safe, productive, and sustainable interactive digital society according to international standards and in partnership with global institutions and companies specializing in that field.
The meeting was attended by ITI Chairwoman Heba Saleh, NTI Director Ahmed Khattab, and the Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Egypt Mohamed Nasr Eldin.
It is noteworthy that the ICT Minister is visiting New Valley to open and inspect several MCIT projects. He will open Telecom Egypt’s WE Applied Technology School and inspect a telemedicine unit at Kharga Specialized Hospital and Salam Post Office building. Talaat is due to visit the Intellectual Education School and Al Amal School for the Deaf in Kharga after being supplied with technology equipment to facilitate the students’ access to education.
