Nokia opens Cairo regional office to cover operation throughout North East Africa

The new facility will enhance the company's presence in the region by providing a centralized office that caters to and supports the tremendous long-term growth potential in the area. The office will be located in Cairo and will manage operational functions in Egypt, Libya and Sudan.

The office will play a vital role in ensuring that Nokia's growing customer base in North East African markets have access to Nokia's mobile telecommunications technologies and to the expertise that supports them. The office will also reinforce the excellent relationships that Nokia has already forged with the local market over the last several years.

The new opening also reflects Nokia's commitment to the region, following from other offices recently opened across the Region, including Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Lebanon and Mozambique, as well as the Middle East and Africa regional headquarter in the UAE.

"The growth rate of mobile subscribers in the Middle East and Africa is one of the highest in the world, which means it is essential we strengthen our presence here," said Timo Toikkanen - Senior Vice President, Customer and Market Operations, Nokia Middle East and Africa. "We have forecasted a global market of 4 billion subscriptions in 2010, up from the current level of just over 3 billion. And we expect that nearly a quarter of the increase in subscriptions will come from this region."

The Egypt office will play a pivotal role in spreading mobility throughout the country, which has seen a 6 times increase in the number of mobile subscribers since 2001. In July 2007, Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology reported 24.4 million people in Egypt are mobile subscribers.

"Our commitment to our customers has made Nokia a leading mobility company worldwide" said Timo Toikkanen

"This commitment and leadership is illustrated with our extensive research and development and our ability to move rapidly to meet demand. We have also achieved success based on the ability to answer the needs of consumers, which is demonstrated by our comprehensive and ever-growing portfolio. In this region alone we developed a range of localised applications, to ensure all customers can benefit from mobility, in the language of their choice."

Eddy Rizk - Area Manager - North East Africa said of the occasion, "I look forward to being responsible for the regional Nokia office for North East Africa." The new Egypt office is part of Nokia's continuing strategy of driving mobility - especially in emerging markets throughout the MEA region.