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By: Ghada Helmy
Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Telecom Company, the Information Technology Industry Development Authority (ITIDA), the National Telecommunications Institute, and the Indian company TEJAS, which works in the field of designing and manufacturing wired and wireless network products, with the aim of deepening the local manufacturing of telecommunications products in Egypt, and establishing an academy for Tejas to build capabilities according to the latest networking and communications technologies.
The signing ceremony was attended by Ambassador Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Egypt, and the participation of Ambassador Wael Hamed, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to India, via video conference technology.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Eng. Mohamed Nasr El-Din, CEO and Managing Director of Telecom Egypt, Eng. Ahmed Al-Zaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Authority, Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Director of the National Telecommunications Institute, and Anand Athreya, CEO and Managing Director of TEJAS Networks.
Manufacture of communications products
Through this partnership, Tejas will manufacture its communications products in Egypt using fiber optic technology to the home. Under the memorandum of understanding, the company will receive incentives for export.
Tegas will also work to establish an engineering research and development center, and will also establish a technical support center in Egypt to serve customers in the Egyptian market, Africa and the Middle East.
Within the framework of cooperation in capacity building, the company will establish the Tejas Academy to train and certify Egyptian engineers through the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) to provide technical support in the fields of networks and fiber optics. Tejas will provide a training-of-trainers program for 25 trainers affiliated with the institute, and the company's training materials will also be made available.
In his speech, Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, confirmed that the memorandum of understanding is one of the fruits of the discussions that began in January 2023 to enhance cooperation between Egypt and India in the field of communications and information technology. He explained that the memorandum of understanding is considered comprehensive, as it includes manufacturing telecommunications products in Egypt and achieving an added value of no less than 45%, in addition to training young people to maintain these products and providing technical support for them when operating them. It also includes establishing a unit for research and development in the field of communications in cooperation between Tejas. And the National Telecommunications Institute, adding that the cooperation aims to pump Indian investments into Egypt and localize the communications products industry, which contributes to increasing the ability to develop digital infrastructure in various parts of the Republic, reducing dollar imports and creating export opportunities for these products to surrounding markets, in addition to creating job opportunities in the country. The field of technical support, providing maintenance and installation services for products when they are in operation, and developing research cadres in various fields of communications.
Strengthening digital partnership
For his part, Ambassador Wael Hamed, Egyptian Ambassador to India, pointed out the increase in cooperation between Egypt and India during the past period since the President’s visit to India in 2023. He explained that the field of communications and information technology is one of the main pillars of joint cooperation between Egypt and India in light of the availability of a common will from the two countries to support cooperation in the field of communications and information technology, and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries to enhance joint cooperation in this field, noting the existence of executive programs for cooperation between the two countries. In the areas of digital transformation, communications infrastructure, and capacity building.
Ambassador Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of the Republic of India to Egypt, pointed out that the increasing aspects of cooperation between Egypt and India in the field of communications and information technology provides a great opportunity for Indian companies to have a presence in Egypt. He explained that there are many areas of joint cooperation between Egypt and India in the field of manufacturing, as this memorandum adds a new dimension to cooperation, which is related to the manufacture of communications products. He added that India has high capabilities in the field of manufacturing communications engineering equipment, as there are many countries that cooperate with India in this field.
Infrastructure services
For his part, Engineer Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, said: “Telecom Egypt does not stop its efforts towards developing its infrastructure and developing its technical capabilities through cooperation with the largest companies in the world.” He added: "Today's memorandum of understanding with Tejas establishes a long-term strategic partnership aimed at providing Telecom Egypt with the latest communications technology in the world and ensuring that it provides the best level of infrastructure services to its customers."
Centers for research and development services
For his part, Engineer Ahmed Al-Dhaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Authority, said: “We are pleased to sign this memorandum with partners from government and private agencies, which will contribute to deepening the local manufacturing of electronic communications products. We will help Tejas in accelerating local manufacturing procedures and processes with local partners or themselves.” In addition to providing the necessary support, providing the required technical skills, and qualifying cadres specialized in research and development operations, he pointed out that the authority is looking forward to building on this memorandum and working with the “Tegas” company to establish centers for engineering research and development services, and technical support in Egypt to serve the company’s clients in the market. Egypt, Africa and the Middle East.”
Installation of fiber optic networks
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Director of the National Telecommunications Institute, explained that the memorandum of understanding enables the Institute to establish the TEJAS Academy in Egypt to train, qualify and certify Egyptian engineers and technicians in the fields of implementation, design and installation of fiber optic networks and communications networks and to provide technical support in implementation of the strategy of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to build cadres from Egyptian youth and raising their potential with the latest international technologies to keep pace with the requirements of the labor market. The company will provide the company’s scientific material to the institute and transfer its expertise in the fields of agreement to train trainers affiliated with the institute to present programs at the academy, with the possibility of the company establishing specialized laboratories at the institute to implement practical training.
For his part, Anand Athreya, CEO and Managing Director of Tejas, said: “The memorandum of understanding with Telecom Egypt and the Information Technology Industry Development Authority is an important step towards enhancing Egypt’s digital vision by benefiting from Tejas’ successful experience in designing more than 500 networks inside and outside India. " He added: “We are committed to transferring expertise and working as a technology partner to Telecom Egypt while supporting the local manufacturing of telecommunications products, and providing support in the field of research and development, network planning, installation and maintenance.”
