CAIRO: IBM has inaugurated a new process delivery center in Egypt in the hopes of continuing to push forward on endeavors to strengthen its ties in the country. The announcement came at Cairo's Smart Village and was hosted by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamel and a number of government officials along with IBM's General Manager for Global Business Process Delivery Peter Lynt and IBM Egypt chief Amr Ghoneim. Despite a number of years in existence, the new center will be IBM's first operation in the modern Smart Village. The new BPDC, a critical component of IBM's network of global services delivery centers, will focus specifically on delivering outsourced business process services for IBM's finance and accounting clients. “IBM corporation is perceived as the technological partner of the Egyptian government,” said Kamel. “This partnership was reinforced by the visit of IBM's Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano in September 2008 where he met with President Mubarak. During his visit, Palmisno witnesses partnership initiatives by the Egyptian Government and IBM. Today IBM isn't being looked at as a software, information systems, and services provider but as a partner that is investing in the implementation of the Ministry's strategy in the field of outsourcing industry and investing in R&D.” Already, IBM is looking for Egyptian employees who are being trained and hired to deliver these services, which range from business processes and outsourcing though back-office and “transaction processing operations” to technical support and call center operations. Microsoft already has established itself in the Smart Village, employing hundreds in their XBox service center. IBM is hoping to follow suit. “IBM is pleased to open its new center located in Smart Village Cairo,” said Ghoneim. “Egypt is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and one of the most attractive growth markets for business. IBM's decision to locate a Business Process Services Delivery Center here recognizes the importance of Egypt to our services delivery network as well as other factors like cultural compatibility and the availability of highly-educated professionals.” The agreement to establish the BPD Center is the outcome of a joint collaboration between IBM and The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the executive IT arm of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, ministry and IBM officals said at the announcement. The center agreement was signed in March 2009, in the presence of many government officials, headed by Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, ITIDA officials and representatives of IBM Corporation. The Center supports the Egyptian government's plans to focus on job creation through multiple projects. BM
