ECETA, a part of Egypt's Al Ahly for Real Estate Development, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hill International, the global leader in managing construction risk, to provide project management, construction consulting services, and facilities management. The MOU brings together two of the most prominent companies in the field to enhance the quality of service provided by the companies, through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and personnel. ECETA and Hill have agreed to partner for one year. They will commence their alliance on a project-by-project basis. "Corporations today are pursuing simplicity," said Sherif Sultan, Chairman and MD of ECETA in Egypt, explaining the strategic objective behind the partnership. "They want their requirements met in due time with the best quality and most effective costs. This type of business requires one-stop-shop service with no quality compromises," Sultan further noted. The official's explanation aligns with projections for growth in integrated facility management (IFM) services. A recent survey by Frost and Sullivan's Global IFM Report indicated the IFM market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 6.4 percent between 2013 and 2019. Today, the FM market in Egypt is in the infancy stage compared to other countries both globally and in the Middle East. The global market for FM is projected to reach US$394.7 billion by the end of 2017, according to a market research report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. According to these and other analyses, there is a strong demand for single-contracted solutions, continuous price reductions, improved energy management and more efficient, intelligent buildings. To meet those multiple demands, says Sultan, "Companies are seeking to achieve more with less through a streamlined approach." In other words, they want to leverage the power of one provider for Integrated Facilities Management. Outsourcing IFM to a single-source provider has three fundamental benefits, Sultan added that it enables organisations to lower operating costs, improves financial control and realizes best practices. "In spite of the globally growing need for IFM, companies in Egypt continue to operate with single or bundled solutions focused on catering, cleaning or security," elaborated Sultan. With a long-term phased approach, ECETA will build strategic competencies to increase its ability to service its growing market as an IFM company. "We are excited about this strategic partnership and believe it will expand and strengthen our abilities in this market and sustain our decades-long leadership position", he clarified. "When we look at the next decades of our business in Egypt and the Middle East, we see strong benefits in our alliance with an internationally recognized service provider such as Hill International, consequently providing us with the opportunity to expand our services and improve our operational capabilities to deliver industry-leading IFM services," he said. Hill International expects to expand its capabilities and capacity to serve its many existing clients in the region. "We are excited to explore this new opportunity with ECETA to further develop our presence in Egypt," said Waleed Abdel Fattah, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager at Hill International. "There is a great need for IFM services in Egypt, especially considering the number of grand scale, mega projects being implemented. and integrated facility management is unequivocally ideal for the private and public sectors as it allows for a more harmonious business environment. Therefore, partnering with one of Egypt's oldest facility management companies is a positive step in extending Hill's services," Abdel Fattah said. Speaking about the industry, Abdel Fattah explains that when selecting an outsourcing partner, it's important to look to providers with a proven track record in IFM solution delivery and with applicable experience in the industry. "The key," according to Abdel Fattah, "lies in finding the right partner to take facilities to the next level through complementing resources, so managers can focus more on their core business." Implementing facility management services can add tremendous value to labor intensive businesses since it has a compelling influence on increasing return on investment as well as reducing facility operating costs solutions, ultimately driving businesses and economic growth. Within this context sSeeking the appropriate partner to provide sustainable business solutions is critical, Abdel Fattah explains. "The MOU initiates closer collaboration between our two companies. We both consistently aim to deliver exceptional and innovative services in facilities management and sustainability. This MOU is a shared belief in the importance of furthering the objectives of Hill International and ECETA to better increase the reach of these benefits, locally and internationally."
