Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amr Talaat said that the ministry has three main axes to build a digital community capable of respecting innovation through implementing a number of government projects to automate government services by providing mobile applications by mid-2019. During his speech at the Techne Summit 2018, Talaat said the projects include the automation of the real estate registration offices in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, as well as the automation of health insurance in co- operation with the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the projects will also automate public taxes, and value added tax in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, in addition to the licensing and traffic services package in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, and other services. Talaat revealed that the government intends to include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the implementation of these projects, especially since 76% of the total jobs which are provided are from the private sector. This is the main objective of the government in restructuring its institutions, which requires the development of the SMEs sector, added Talat added. The second axis is the development and qualification of graduates, and the provision of training courses and technology incubators through four technological areas in Borg El Arab, Assiut, Beni Suef, and Sadat city. He also revealed the establishment of a centre in each technological area, to provide financial and administrative assistance to SMEs. " The ministry has established seven technological communities within the Egyptian universities from Aswan to the Delta, in order to cooperate and support the relationship between the work in all cities and regions," he pointed out, adding, "moreover, the third axis is to achieve digital transformation through the provision of innovative services, including an agreement with the Ministry of Finance to launch the unified card project for the disbursement of financial receivables of citizens, and linking it with the system of the Ministry of Finance." For his part, former Governor of Alexandria Hany El-Messiry said that there are 25 countries participating in the Techne Summit 2018, and we are also participants to support startups in achieving success from the ground up to millions of dollars. El-Messiry added that building a strong team and hiring experienced employees is the main factor for a start- ups' success. Founder and Chairperson of Techne Summit 2018 Tarek El Kady, said that the summit participants this year reached 5,000 individuals. General Manager of Microsoft Egypt Khaled Abdel Kader, expected an elimination of a number of jobs, as a result of the use of technology, including some teachers and drivers, as a result of the technological development of these sectors. The CEO of AXA Life Egypt Khaled El Shaarany, said that his company seeks to create a state of integration with medical platforms, in order to provide health services, and health insurance services commensurate with the appropriate needs of patients. El Shaarany revealed that his company will sponsor the Health Care Camp in the coming period. The Chairperson of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), Ahmed El- Wakil, said that the federation will choose the two best projects to participate in the Euro- Mediterranean Summit on innovation and digitalisation, and the Euro-Medi- terranean Forum of Entrepreneurs and the Digital Economy, during the 12th Euro-Mediterranean Economic Week, and the Euro-Mediterranean Business Summit Meda Week from 21-23 November in Barcelona, aiming to trans- form innovative ideas into real projects and partnerships on the ground. Over 100 speakers from 25 countries, including the United States, Lebanon, Argentina, England, and Germany, as well as 180 emerging technology companies, and a number of local and international start- up finance companies, attended the fourth edition.
