Tech

Global events services platform Informa opens regional hub in Egypt

Published

4 months ago

July 28, 2024

Global events, digital services and academic research platform, Informa PLC, has announced the opening of its new regional hub office at CFC Business Park in Cairo, Egypt.

Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), who performed the milestone cutting of the ribbon to mark Informa’s 10th anniversary in Egypt, said the company’s decision to expand its operations in Egypt through a regional headquarters reflects its ambitions to further expand its presence and team in Cairo which is a significant regional hub for its growing India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) business.

The event was witnessed by top governmental representatives, as well as VIP guests, esteemed partners, and business leaders from various sectors.

“This decision underscores Egypt’s appeal as a premier and distinguished hub for exporting shared services and offshoring, while also bolstering the agency’s plans to encourage local companies and attract more global enterprises to establish or expand their centers in Egypt,” El-Zaher said.

El-Zaher further clarified that the agency is working to attract major global companies and leaders from various sectors to establish offshoring centers in Egypt, known for its abundance of digital talent and multilingual skills that international companies can leverage for their global operations.

“This initiative aligns with Digital Egypt strategy for the Offshoring Industry and is not limited to IT and telecommunications companies.

“ITIDA’s fully supports Informa’s efforts to grow its offshoring and shared services centers from Egypt, including call centers, technical support, IT services, and knowledge services such as graphic design, digital marketing, and academic publishing, to serve its clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa,” he added.

Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive of Informa PLC, stated:

“Africa, and the wider IMEA region, is home to many of the world’s fastest growing economies and Egypt is at the very heart of it.

“We have steadily expanded our presence in Cairo over the last decade: supporting the government’s focus on economic growth, helping Egyptian businesses to trade through major exhibitions, and partnering with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank to serve local researchers.

“We are looking forward to the next decade of growth in Egypt and the region, and to further expanding and investing in our talented team of professionals in Cairo.”

He noted that Informa delivers nine major annual exhibitions through its Informa Markets business, which include Cityscape Egypt in real estate, Pharmaconex in pharmaceuticals, ProPak MENA in food manufacturing, and Sahara in agriculture.

Hany Khafagy, General Manager of Informa Markets in Egypt, added:

“We are proud of our contributions to Egypt’s economic and sectoral development over the past decade. In 2023, our exhibitions attracted over 120,000 attendees from more than 40 countries and generated EGP 3.8 billion for Egypt’s economy.

“With our expanded office in Cairo, we aim to double our events in Africa in the next three years, while further expanding our central shared finance and customer service functions.”

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Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.