BrazilIBM expands MENA footprint with two new innovation centres in Egypt
IBM has selected Egypt for the launch of two new regional centres; The Cairo Innovation and Industry Client Center and a Marketing Services Centre.
Global tech giant IBM has launched two new regional centres in Egypt – The Cairo Innovation and Industry Client Center and a MENA Marketing Services Centre. based in Cairo – in what the firm states as a bid to aid the country’s digital transformation for both public and private organisations. The centres, it says, will enhance customer service and foster local innovation by connecting clients with high level technical expertise.
“For almost a century, IBM has played an essential role in building strong partnerships to help accelerate transformation and create sustained societal impact across the Middle East and Africa,” said Takreem El Tohamy, general manager IBM Middle East and Africa. “We've been working with clients and partners to develop skills, build out infrastructure and boost local research to develop unique solutions to the region’s challenges.”
The first of the centres – the Innovation and Industry Client Center – will showcase the rapidly emerging technologies of what has been described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, such as artificial intelligence, cloud, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, with experts on hand to provide live demonstrations for IBM solutions and proof of concepts for the government, telecoms, and banking sectors among other key industries.
The IBM Marketing Services Centre will meanwhile serve clients in the Middle East and Africa with optimised end-to-end digital marketing campaign execution in Arabic and English (with Turkish and French in the pipeline for the end of the year) – intended to act as the primary marketing engine for IBM across the region and driven by top local talent. IMB iX, the firm’s design and digital marketing arm, is now one of the world’s largest creative agencies.
“Today we’re witnessing the further expansion of our footprint in the region,” declared El Tohamy, with IMB country general manager for Egypt Wael Abdoush adding; “This is another step forward in IBM’s commitment to Egypt. Since its establishment in Egypt in 1954, IBM has been contributing towards the Egyptian economy and working side by side with the Egyptian government on multiple projects of national importance.”
According to the firm Egypt was selected as the location of the two strategic centers due to the country’s reputation as a regional innovation hub with access to highly skilled talent. And that talent pipeline is set to grow even stronger, with IBM following up the launch of its local centres with a further announcement from the Egyptian Ministry of Education that IBM would establish the country’s first IT school operating through a P-Tech model.
P-Tech (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) was initially established in Ney York through a partnership between IBM, the local department of education and City University of New York, where students study a combined high school and post-secondary IT curriculum in tandem. According to local reports, the school will include courses in areas such as AI and industrial security and will welcome 60 students in its first intake.
