Communications
The State seeks to provide and deploy the telecommunications services to all segments of society through a strategy that contributed to the qualitative leap in the communications network. It is a monthly report issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Electronic government (E-Government)
The electronic Government (E-Government) aims to deliver electronic services to citizens, companies and investors in their whereabouts with the required speed and efficiency by using information networks, in addition to, raising the efficiency of the work of the government apparatus and activating the role of the private sector, and the method of observation and follow-up, as well as providing modern information accurately to support decision-making, and encourage investment, and provide government services via Internet to citizens and correspondence between governmental agencies, and exchange information more effectively.
The experimental operation of the Egyptian Governmental Services portal was launched in 2007.
Information
The establishment of the first specialized ministry concerned with Communications and Information Technology in Egypt in 1999 has coincided with National Project of Technology Renaissance of Egypt, which aims to make Egypt a productive state of high-tech elements and a major base for the information industry.
This ministry has adopted a broad national campaign for technological literacy in the society, popularized the use of computers and establishing a progressive electronic communications network for the deployment of computers and Internet services to all segments of society in towns and villages, as well as establishing and settling of high-tech industries to support export-oriented endeavors to achieve a new and significant sources of national income.
The state is working to promote global and local investment in communications and information technology in order to increase Egypt’s share of world exports in the field of software. This industry has earned to Egypt 150 million dollars in 2005, thus the number of companies operating in the area of communications and information technology in Egypt has increased to 2310 in the end of 2007, compared to 266 companies in 1999, amounted to investments in this sector 18561.7 million pounds by the end of 2007.
Egypt Post
Egypt Post was established in January 1865, it was affiliated to several ministries until it became subordinate to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in 1999.
Egypt is among the 22 countries that contributed to the founding of Universal Postal Union (UPU) following Bern conference in 1874. It has been selected a member in this Union, and actively involved in establishing the Arab Postal Union and the African Postal Union.
Within one year, post offices increased to 5457 offices and mechanized post offices to 450 offices.
- New communities for the development of the information technology industry
Valley technology Project
It was launched in 1995, and aims to create a zone of high-tech industries and its complementary industries, research labs and training centers. It contributes to increase investment opportunities for development areas to attract capital and foreign investments.
The project is located on the east bank of the Suez Canal at the north-west of the Sinai Peninsula, an area of 16.5 thousand faddans; the project would be carried out in four phases with an investment of $ 12 billion dollars.
Smart Village:
The Smart Village was established by Republican Decree no.355 for the year 2000, with activities starting in 2001. It is located in Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road in Abu Rawash area at the west of the capital.
Smart village occupies an area of 450 feddans including 317 feddans of administrative buildings and green spaces as well as the lake area and waterfalls.
Smart village is the first distinct technological city, working to attract foreign investment to bring about growth in the software industry, internet and the industry and the compilation of computer peripherals as well as training activities on information and communication technology by giving concessions to settle and develop IT and communications industry and to mechanize the action of the ministries.
The Smart Village Company was established with an invested capital of LE100 million, 80% of which is private sector used to create and develop the village while the company carries out the development and management of the smart villages projects.
The first stage of the Smart Village was inaugurated in September 2003; it includes Communication Centre building, Business Service Center, Conference Center, and Technological incubators which support new small businesses and small investors in the field of technology. There are also a post services centre, a reception and meetings center, a library and a center for electronic printing, publishing, and imaging. The second phase of this distinguished village is underway.
Five agreements have been signed with major global technology companies. Those companies moved their headquarters to the Smart Village to participate in building the Egyptian information society and to utilize the substantial growth of market information and communication technology in this region. The number of the companies, in the village, rose from 20 to 85 companies.
• Center for Documentation of Culture & Natural Heritage
CULTNAT was inaugurated in the Smart Village in September 2004. The Center aims at increasing public awareness of Egypt’s cultural and natural heritage, and strives to build and develop capacities of professionals in the fields of conservation and documentation of cultural and natural heritage, using the latest digital technology.
The center manages ten programs, such as Archaeological Map, architectural heritage, Natural heritage, the Egyptian folklore, photographic memory of Egypt, the manuscript heritage and the "Immortal Egypt" website as well as joint international projects.