Emulating India and the Philippines: Calls for Global Marketing Campaigns to Promote Egypt as an Outsourcing Hub
Several experts in Egypt’s information technology sector agree that Egypt possesses competitive advantages in the outsourcing services industry that strongly qualify it to launch a global marketing campaign.
This campaign would aim to promote Egypt as an investment destination for the sector.
However, this requires more strategic governmental moves in the coming phase, including organizing a specialized medium-sized annual conference for industry leaders and striving to host global forums on Egyptian soil, thereby enhancing the country’s position on the world map.
Danish: Launching an International Marketing Campaign and Organizing a Medium-Sized Annual Conference
Dr. Adel Danish, considered the “Godfather of the Outsourcing Industry in Egypt,” proposed launching an international marketing campaign branded “Egypt Outsourcing.”
This campaign would promote Egypt’s unique advantages as an investment destination in the outsourcing services industry, leveraging its large young workforce, distinguished strategic location, multilingual capabilities, numerous undersea cables, and advanced technological development.
Danish stated that this must be coupled with targeting specific sectors and focusing on areas where Egypt has strong potential, such as software development, financial services, and healthcare services.
He explained that it might be appropriate to start by organizing a specialized medium-sized annual conference for the industry, with plans for gradual expansion to become a major global event, with the participation of key players.
He emphasized that Egypt’s outsourcing industry is still in a phase of rapid growth but is smaller in size and less mature compared to giants like India or the Philippines.
He noted that the current focus is mainly on building the foundational aspects, such as skill development, attracting individual investments, and resolving infrastructure challenges.
Danish pointed out that there are many initiatives and events, including seminars and conferences, that focus on ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in general, sometimes including the outsourcing sector as part of them, such as ITIDA’s Egypt ICT Summit.
He believes that the success of countries like India, the Philippines, Poland, and Malaysia offers valuable lessons for everyone.
He stressed the importance of ambitious strategic planning that ultimately includes organizing a large, recurring global promotional event, supported by a strong national brand for the outsourcing sector, and close cooperation between the government and the private sector.
Mahfouz: Capable of Hosting Global Conferences and Expanding in Software
Eng. Amr Mahfouz, CEO of Delta Electronic Systems and former CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), affirmed that Egypt has significant opportunities to strengthen its position in the global outsourcing market.
However, he emphasized the need for more effective strategic moves, primarily hosting specialized international conferences and exhibitions in this vital sector.
Mahfouz explained that organizing international events in Cairo is a key tool for promoting Egypt as an attractive hub for outsourcing services and information technology.
He stressed the importance of ITIDA intensifying its efforts in this regard by coordinating with relevant authorities and communicating with international companies that organize outsourcing exhibitions to attract editions to the Egyptian market.
He added that the traditional form of the outsourcing industry, which focuses on remote individual employment, has begun to decline globally.
Mahfouz stressed that the next phase requires a qualitative shift in strategy, including a focus on localizing AI applications, developing fully-fledged software, and expanding the provision of integrated technological solutions to international markets.
Mahfouz indicated that the move towards AI and ready-made software.
