1. Empowering E-Business in Egypt: Facing the Challenges!
Dr. Sherif Hashem
Information Society Development Office (ISDO), Director

2. Outline The Digital Divide CIT in Egypt E-commerce in Egypt Cyber Laws
The Road Ahead

3. The Digital Divide

4. The Digital Divide
“The Digital Divide is the socio-economic gap between industrialized & lesser developed communities due to the rapid and efficient deployment of digital technologies”

5. Number of Fixed Lines Worldwide by Region
Source: ITU (internet host data: Network Wizards, Ripe 2000

6. Worldwide Internet Users by Region
Source: ITU (internet host data: Network Wizards, Ripe 2000

7. Source: Forrester Report 2001
Projection of E-Business Worldwide by 2004
Source: Forrester Report 2001

8. The Digital Divide

9. CIT In Egypt

10. Internet Access in Egypt
1.2M users (estimated) compared to 544M WW (NUA Survey – Feb`02)
Most access is in the capital & major cities
Internet utilization rate of 1 in 57
compared to a WW rate of 1 in 11
60+ ISPs
Cost: FREE Internet  in 15 Governorates, the rest will be covered by the end of 2002

11. Some Key CIT Challenges
Infrastructure
Access to computers
Access to the Internet
Access to software
Access to technical expertise
Local content
Culture
Language
Human Resources/skills
Awareness/understanding
Local business models

12. National CIT Plan (Dec 1999)
CIT Industry Development
Human Resource Development
Communication Infrastructure Development
Information Infrastructure Development

13. National CIT Plan: Mission and Objectives
Community awareness.
Education.
Development of CIT professionals
Infrastructure development.
Regulatory framework.

14. From 2D to 3A Awareness Access Affordability
A Model For Bridging the Digital Divide
From 2D to 3A
Awareness
Access
Affordability

15. To date, there are 350 clubs nation wide
IT Clubs
Awareness
Access
Affordability
Government subsidized Internet Cafés
Created in youth centers, public libraries,
schools and NGOs.
Focusing on deprived and low income
communities.
To date, there are 350 clubs nation wide

16. 96 hours – 6 weeks – hands-on training
Basic IT Training Program
Awareness
Access
Affordability
Word Processing
Data Entry
Spread Sheets
Internet
Presentation Skills
Language Skills
96 hours – 6 weeks – hands-on training
More than 60,000 graduates

17. Professional Development Program
Awareness Access Affordability
Certified professional training by major technology providers including:
Cisco, Microsoft, Lucent, Nortel,
Qualcomm, Ericsson, IBM and Oracle.
More than 8,550 graduates

18. Diversification of services
Expanding the Network
Access Affordability
Deregulation
Private sector participation.
Alliances.
Investment opportunities.
Competitive environment
Diversification of services

19. Stimulating the Information Society
E-government program & projects.
E-commerce and e-payment projects.
Community telecenters project.
Telemedicine projects.
Affordable PCs project.
Incubators project.
Cultural documentation & dissemination projects.

20. Facing the Challenges: Telephony*
Fixed Lines: 9.3M lines up from 6.4M lines, and 7.3M subscribers up from 4.9M subscribers.
Mobile phones: 3.9M subscribers up from 655K subscribers·
Public pay phones: 42K pay phones up from 13K public pay phones.
* Current figures are compared with the situation when the national CIT was adopted late 1999

21. Facing the Challenges: Internet Access*
International links: 500 MB/Sec up from 20MB/Sec.
Users: Over 1.2M users up from 300K users.
Access cost: Access is almost Free  (in 15 Governorates) compared to US $20/month.
Access Points: Over 350 IT clubs and community telecenters.
* Current figures are compared with the situation when the national CIT was adopted late 1999

22. Facing the Challenges: Skills Development*
Basic CIT Skills: Over 60K trained.
Professional Training: Over 8500 highly skilled professionals.
National Telecommunication Institute.
Technological University.
* Current figures are compared with the situation when the national CIT was adopted late 1999

23. Facing the Challenges: Industry Development*
ICT Companies: 722 companies up from 266 companies.
ICT Professionals: Over 25K highly skilled professionals up from 10K professionals.
Smart Villages.
ICT Incubators.
ICT Industry Development Organization.
* Current figures are compared with the situation when the national CIT was adopted late 1999

24. E-Commerce in Egypt

25. E-commerce in Egypt Oct’97 ISE-Ecommerce Committee formed
Aug’98 1st meeting of the National E-commerce Committee
Sep’98 1st National Seminar on Ecommerce
Sep’99 Ecommerce initiative declared
Oct’99 Ecommerce in the National CIT Plan
Cyber laws (e-signature, e-payment, ..);
Government Pilots; Private Portals

26. Some Key Issues Legislation (cyber laws):
Electronic Signature & Electronic Contracting
Customs & Taxes
Jurisdiction
Encryption, IPR, privacy, security, consumer protection, domain names, trade marks, etc.
Regulation (Certificate Authorities, etc.)
Banking infrastructure (e-payment)
E-Insurance (financial, commerce, etc.)
E-Education & E-Knowledge

27. Some Key Questions Who is responsible for E-commerce?
How can government empower the use of E-commerce?
How can SMEs understand the challenges and opportunities of E-commerce?
How to help create, empower, and support Egyptian E-business models?
Where do we go from here?

28. Cyber Laws in Egypt

29. Drafting an E-Signature Act: The Process
National Electronic Signature Committee (entities):
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Interior
Ministry for Administrative Development
Central Bank of Egypt
Cabinet Information & Decision Support Center

30. Drafting an E-Signature Act: The Process (Cont.)
National Electronic Signature Committee (legal and technology experts):
Governmental,
Private sector, and
Academic

31. Drafting an E-Signature Act: Key Issues
Amending existing laws vs. creating a “new” law
Recognition of electronic/digital documents and signatures
Creation of a state organization for regulatory, licensing, and supervisory roles
General awareness and training programs
Protecting IPR and privacy

32. E-Signature Act: The Main Points
Recognizing electronic/digital signatures and document
Scope: Commercial, Administrative, Civil Sectors
Technology Independence
Establishing a regulatory body for Certificate Authority (CAs)
Recognizing “foreign” CAs

33. The Road Ahead National white paper on:
The Egyptian information society
Four sub-committees:
Electronic contracting
E-payment
Customs and taxes
CyberCrime

34. For More Information Visit Ministry of Communications and Information Technology or
Thank You ……