-      In the presence of Dr. Amr Talaat, ICT Minister, HMD signs an agreement to produce one million phones this year

 - HMD intends to double production for Africa next year

By : Mohamed Elttar

Although it has only been a few days since President Abdel-Fattah El-last Sisi's call, HMD Global, has the exclusive licensee of the Nokia brand of phone and tablet, has taken significant steps.

As a result, Alain Lejeune, Chief Operating Officer at HMD  Global OY, and Won Chang, Executive Vice President for Products, were attending signing the agreement to produce the company's phones in Egypt. Accordingly, Egypt will serve as a launch pad for mobile phone exports to North African countries and Sudan, followed by the rest of the continent.

The Agreement was signed by General Manager of HMD in Egypt Tamer El-Gamal and EAI Managing Director Ahmed Abu Ouf.

THE Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has witnessed the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement to produce one million mobile devices of different models, whether feature phones or smartphones within the current year. This is along with doubling the production during the coming period.

The signing ceremony was also attended the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Amr Mahfouz, ITIDA Vice President Hossam Osman, and several officials from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), EAI and HMD Global attended.

For his part, Tamer El-Gamal, General Manager of HMD in Egypt, stated that HMD will transfer technological expertise to Egypt and provide production requirements such as raw materials, inspection and testing tools, and calibration equipment necessary for the production process.

El-Gamal highlighted that the Egyptian calibers will be well trained by Nokia experts. This is in addition to providing all means of support to benefit from HMD research and development (R&D) centers to provide the best specifications and products that meet customer needs.

He added that the state's current policies are ideal for taking such a step at a time when most multinational companies are reducing their presence in many markets. However, Egypt, with its large market and a society dominated by young people who can absorb and apply technology, has the potential to be the region's technological manufacturing hub.

Meanwhile, Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, confirmed that the agreement highlights the state’s consolidated efforts to create an enabling environment for fostering global companies’ investments in Egypt. It also emphasizes the government’s keenness to encourage and enable the private sector to manufacture electronics through Egyptian factories. This process is contributing to developing this significant industry and creating specialized job opportunities for young people in electronics and ICTs.

President Sisi has recently urged improving industry localization and modern technology transfer processes, including training for Egyptian human cadres in manufacturing and maintenance work. This would provide further job opportunities and support economy through the exploitation of the feeder national industries and having the local industry products at lower prices than their foreign counterparts. President El-Sisi has also called for greater exploration of more fields of industry localization, particularly with regard to infrastructure projects, given the vast and numerous projects underway across the country.

It is worth noting that Nokia phones production will begin in the near future with the feature phones, followed by smart phones in mid-October, assuming that exports to some African countries, North Africa, and Sudan will begin in the first half of next year, with Egypt serving as the company's gateway to the African continent.

Moreover, Mr. Tamer El-Gamal, General Manager of HMD Egypt, affirmed that the company is concerned about product quality, which will not be lower than that of factories in the most advanced countries in the world, and it will appoint international experts to train and transfer expertise to Egyptian workers.

He added that the manufacturing process will give the company a strong foundation for after-sales services, which is already one of the major benefits of Nokia phones in Egypt. HMD will be more eager to please all customers because the Egyptian consumer will be the first to testify to the success of this experience.