Intel celebrates five years in Egypt

Working closely with the Egyptian government, the world's leader in silicon innovation has witnessed an increase in the Egyptian PC market with a registered overall growth of 36% year on year, and an estimated 7 million Egyptians now using 2.5 million computers, with a demand for 500,000 new computers annually. Furthermore, since 2001 internet penetration in Egypt has increased from an approx 500,000 to 5 million users.

'We would like to thank Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Egypt's Ministry of Education for their continued support over the last five years,' said Khaled Elamrawi, Intel's Country Manager for Egypt, Levant & North Africa. 'Egypt is at the vanguard of spearheading digital transformation throughout the region, therefore we look forward to working in collaboration with the government on future initiatives.'

As part of Intel's Digital Transformation Initiative launched across the region last year, Intel had kicked off a multi-year initiative to increase the company's investment in four key areas namely local entrepreneurship, education, digital accessibility and specialized technical competencies. To endorse local development, Intel set up a Platform Definition Centre in Egypt, covering the entire Middle East, Turkey and Africa region. This Center, employing mainly Egyptian engineers, allows Intel to study computer usage models in the region and develop platforms that correspond specifically to the regional customers' needs.

In 2005 Intel established its Software Development Center in Cairo, to support Intel's Software Network activities across the region, and it also established its Intel Software College to provide training to software developers using leading-edge Intel platforms, tools and technologies. In 2005 and 2006 Intel hosted its regional Intel Developers Forum in Egypt, with the purpose of driving the digital revolution by showcasing solutions to local fellow travelers in the market - software developers, vendors and IT solution providers - with key themes such as Research and Development, Mobility and Communication Technologies, Security Advances and Mobile and Modular Platforms. Today Intel also has one of the most active channel programs in the region, designed to support local industry and to develop relationships with local systems integrators.

Intel launched its global World Ahead Program earlier this year, providing a comprehensive initiative that aims to enhance lives by accelerating access to uncompromised technology for everyone, anywhere in the world through accessibility, connectivity, and education.
The main goals of the World Ahead Program are to extend wireless broadband PC access to the world's next billion users while training 10 million more teachers on the use of technology in education, with the possibility of reaching another 1 billion students. 'Much of our activities in Egypt are part of the World Ahead Program,' added Khaled Elamrawi, from Intel.

Khaled Elamrawi, Intel's Country Manager for Egypt, Levant & North Africa points out that Intel currently works with a number of businesses, NGOs and non-profit organizations, program developers, local businesses, and other groups and organizations to expand the use and understanding of information and communication technology in Egypt.

'We have seen significant results in these sectors, and moving forward we will build on our current activities and increase the company's investment in four key areas: Local Entrepreneurship, Digital Accessibility, Specialized Technical Competencies, and Education,' said Khaled Elamrawi. 'We anticipate enhanced support for software developers and other local technology entrepreneurs; greater efforts to make the latest information and communication technology - including the wireless Internet - more widely accessible; an increased commitment to building specialized competencies in key industries serving the region; and more investments in education at all levels.'

Education is a major area of development for Intel. The company has invested more than $5.3 million in its global education development programs, and in 2004 launched its highly acclaimed Intel 'Teach to the Future' program in Egypt to train teachers to integrate IT into their classroom teaching. In 2005 Intel received special recognition from Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, and Egypt's Minister of Education Dr Yousry El Gamal, for the success of the Program, which to date has successfully trained 20,000 teachers in Egypt.

'The Intel Teach to the Future program is proving to be a great success, and by 2010 we would have taught 775,000 of the current 800,000 teachers in Egypt,' said Khaled Elamrawi. 'However, such an achievement would not have been possible without the shared vision and strong support we have received from H.E. Dr. Yousry El Gamal and the Ministry of Education.'

In 2005 Intel also launched its 'Intel Learn' program in Egypt. An after-school, community-based program, Intel Learn is designed to teach technological literacy, problem solving and collaboration skills-essential skills for success in today's knowledge economy. Created in collaboration with government and non-governmental agencies, the program uses trained staff to guide learners 8 to 16-years-old through its engaging, structured curriculum. It is designed to meet the unique needs of emerging markets by delivering high-quality, technology-based education opportunities.

'We have also launched the 'Intel Engineering Excellence Program,' which will provide scholarships to outstanding engineering students from Egypt in technology-related fields at top universities,' said Khaled Elamrawi, Intel's Country Manager for Egypt, Levant & North Africa. 'This program we are running in partnership with Egypt's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and Egypt's Ministry of Higher Education as well as with leading Egyptian universities.'

Following the launch of Intel's Centrino mobile technology in 2003, Intel worked closely on wirelessly enabling with local telephone companies, service providers and others, setting up the region's first wireless hotspots. Intel launched the first wireless cafés, the first wireless hotel, the first wireless campuses, the first wireless airport and the first wireless mall in the region. Furthermore, in May 2006 Intel Capital announced its new WiMAX investment in Orascom Telecom WiMAX Limited, a joint venture with Orascom Telecom of Egypt.

Reflecting on Intel's achievements in Egypt over the last five years, Khaled Elamrawi, comments that Intel has just touched the service. 'Last year, our Chairman Craig Barrett visited Egypt for the first time. He had already recognized the country's efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth and to be competitive in the emerging digital economy, and said that because Egypt is transforming into an information society Intel is committed to working hand in hand with the government and public sector, along with other key private companies, to accelerate Egypt's ICT transformation.'