By: Basel Khaled
Amr El-Feki, CEO and Managing Director of the United Media Services Company, in response to a question from “Digital World” about the possibility of becoming a regional center for the exhibition and conference industry, confirmed that organizing exhibitions and conferences has become a global industry whose value exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars, and that there are cities around the world that desire to organize events. Annually, periodically, including the French city of Cannes, which organizes about 12 annual exhibitions that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists, and from above, Egypt possesses all the capabilities, whether infrastructure, road network, or human resources, in addition to the large market, to become a regional center for this industry.
This came during the press conference, which was held recently, and the United Media Services Company - one of the largest media entities in the Arab region - announced the signing of a strategic partnership contract with Trade Fairs International Exhibitions Company - one of the largest Egyptian companies specialized in organizing exhibitions - to participate in organizing Both the twenty-eighth edition of the Cairo International Technology Exhibition and Conference (Cairo ICT), scheduled for the period from 17 to 20 next November, and the third edition of the Information Security and Cybersecurity Exhibition and Conference (Caisec), scheduled for next June 3 and 4.
In response to a question from “Digital World” about what added value the United Arab Emirates can provide to the “Cairo ICT” exhibition, Al-Feki said that the United Arab Emirates is not just a large media entity, but rather we have about 55 companies working in many fields and contributing strongly to the economic development process, but in general we will work Through our network of international relations, we aim to enhance the presence of global experts and human competencies to participate in the exhibition and conference activities, while inviting decision makers in many Arab and African countries to learn about the technological solutions provided by Egyptian technology companies, enhance its contribution to the national product, and provide more job opportunities for young people.
He added that we are also planning for the exhibition to go out to the countries of the African continent, and we are currently studying which country is a candidate to strengthen the presence of the exhibition in the African continent in a way that helps in developing Egyptian technological exports, which is consistent with the Egyptian state’s vision 2030.
Amr El-Feki praised the role played by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, led by Dr. Amr Talaat, in advancing the technology sector, qualifying human resources and developing digital skills, in addition to supporting emerging technology companies, in addition to providing facilities to enhance the export capabilities of Egyptian technology companies.
For his part, in response to a question from “Digital World” about what this partnership means, Osama Kamal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trade Fairs International and Mercury Communications, said that we have already received a number of partnership offers from some international and regional companies to organize the “Cairo ICT” exhibition, since its launch for the first time. In 1996, however, in fact, we were not only looking for a financial partner, but rather we were looking for a national partner to help us achieve our goals as a platform and Egypt Technology Exhibition, and to continue our role in localizing the information and communications technology industry, as well as taking the exhibition to foreign markets.
Under the partnership contract, the United Media Services Company participates in marketing Cairo ICT and Caisec locally, regionally and globally to attract major companies operating in the sectors of communications, information technology and cybersecurity, organizing an advertising campaign and inviting local and international entities to participate and display their products, establishing partnerships, and taking advantage of the promising opportunities in the Egyptian market, targeting The two exhibitions will become the largest platforms for presenting the latest innovations and technologies in the Middle East and Africa.
He explained that this step aims to strengthen Egypt's position as a distinguished location for organizing international exhibitions and conferences, considering that the exhibition and conference industry is one of the gateways to attracting foreign investments and achieving economic growth.
He added that the specialized exhibition industry in Egypt is now at the forefront at the African regional level, indicating that the Egyptian market is on the verge of a major boom in the exhibition industry in the coming years, as the exhibition market is witnessing a major expansion thanks to the expansion of this industry locally and the demand of international companies with the aim of entering the Egyptian market as one. The largest and most important market in the region, noting that “Cairo ICT” is considered Egypt’s technological platform for reviewing the opportunities available in the communications and information technology market and promoting an increase in the volume of local and foreign investments in light of the Egyptian government’s plans to increase investments, from the private sector, in the field of information and communications technology.
Kamal explained that the exhibition has succeeded, over its 27 years, in establishing a unique and successful partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and to serve as a mirror that strongly reflects the scale of real transformations in the field of digital transformation and building the Egyptian knowledge society, and to be an annual national platform for launching many national initiatives as well as projects. Nationalism concerned with technological development and the development of the Egyptian communications sector. Over the past ten years, the exhibition has also received the patronage and support of the political leadership, represented by the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his keenness to open a number of sessions.
The last session, the twenty-seventh, was held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, with the participation of more than 500 companies and witnessed the visit of 114,640 visitors over the four days of the exhibition, in addition to the number of visitors to the Connecta exhibition in Hall 3 of more than 79 thousand visitors. The exhibition also witnessed the signing of 43 agreements. Cooperation and partnership between companies participating in the events over the course of its four days, and the exhibition witnessed the holding of 76 sessions and workshops that included 289 speakers for the Cario ICT, PAFIX, and INOVATIO ARENA conferences.
