PwC launches regional technology & innovation centre in Egypt

Global consulting giant PwC has launched a new technology and innovation centre in Egypt, with the aim of building  a talent hub that services PwC teams and clients across the Middle East and beyond.

The new centre, which is based in Cairo, will specialise in key technology domains such as enterprise resource planning, cloud, data analytics, cyber security and artificial intelligence, and PwC’s key technology partnerships including SAP and Salesforce.

“PwC is proud to have found a home for its technology and innovation capability in Egypt. We see our investment here as strategic and long term, both for our clients and future generations in Egypt,” said David Padwick, Chief Operations Officer for Consulting EMEA at PwC.

Asked why the accounting and consulting firm picked Egypt as its destination of choice, Padwick pointed at the country’s “welcoming infrastructure for foreign investment and long term investment partners” and “strong base of highly skilled talent” in the technology space.

Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, endorsed the agreement inked, stating that the country is proud to host a global powerhouse such as PwC (328,000 people in 150+ countries).

“This agreement Egypt’s conducive business environment and multinationals’ confidence in our qualified local talent. With its unique central location at the crossroads between three continents, Egypt delivers a resilient high-quality digital infrastructure, and provides a supportive legislative framework catching up with the global rapid growth,” he continued.

To bring the Egypt-based team up to speed, the centre’s technology experts will work closely with PwC’s consulting teams across the Middle East, as well as the firm’s practices in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. These large practices have an extensive track record in tech innovation and alliances and will share transfer best practices and capabilities.

PwC’s agreement is part of a broader collaboration with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) – the executive IT arm of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology which plays a fundamental role for foreign direct investors seeking to enhance their offering in the country.

“We’re fully committed to contributing to the growing digital transformation agenda in Egypt,” concluded Padwick.

Last year, PwC inked a similar investment-focused agreement with a government agency in Qatar.