Egypt dives into tech industry development
Egypt has just taken another step into the future and is entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Egyptian government has announced plans to launch a series of smart industrial zones near Cairo. These will be primarily aimed at developing projects related to artificial intelligence technology and to encourage the development of industrial automation.
The government aims to reduce reliance on people to produce these jobs and reduce the chaos of industrial zones. Thanks to automated and independent robots and equipment, high work efficiency will be generated. In addition, they will be equipped with control systems and data points for effective integration into the industry.
With this new plan, Egypt seems to be positioning itself in favour of the development of technology. Technology can also significantly reduce pollution, so these new factories will be based on sustainability and the reduction of environmentally harmful waste.
There are already some companies in the country that have started to use these smart resources. This is the case of Polaris Parks and Suez Industrial Development Company, which have introduced some technological components to their system and the brands claim that they have been perfectly integrated into the supply chain.
This plan is a measure that the Egyptian government has been looking to implement for some time, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic where a severe lack of technological presence was evident. The country's Ministry of Trade and Industry recently reached an agreement with the UN to boost industrial development. This memorandum aims to transform three industrial zones into more environmentally friendly and sustainable models that will achieve great results.
The UN is expected to provide the nation with a total of 1.5 million euros for implementation, as well as advice and technical assistance for the proper functioning of the technologies. The plan will be launched soon and the first phase will start near the Suez Canal, as it is one of the largest industrial complexes in the country.
These buildings will start to have some technologies such as number plate identification, security cameras, electric vehicle charging stations and warning systems to prevent fires and problems. Drainage systems with sensors and timers will also be incorporated to rationalise water in the factory to avoid costly wastage.
"All these features help improve efficiency and avoid unnecessary crises in all factories in the complex," said Said Younir, a member of the Suez investors' association.
Experts in the field claim that the plan will be very beneficial as it will eliminate all problems in the industries. In this way, the government aims to attract foreign investment to develop this sector and help SMEs, which are the most disadvantaged.
In Egypt, the business sector is still very weak and undeveloped by today's standards. The plan could help it to get support and assistance from other international companies to provide them with the means to enter the technology market.
Technology in the country is still an undeveloped issue. A World Economic Forum report states that the country ranks 68th out of 100 countries and ninth out of thirteen countries in the MENA region in adapting to industrial automation. This makes it lagging far behind the latest developments compared to many nations around the globe.
In line with this plan, the Egyptian government aims to scale up this technology and its next project will be to establish 38 new smart cities incorporating 4G technology. These will be able to improve sustainability and make good use of natural resources. In addition, they will help the nation save costs on the purchase of materials, as recycling and reuse is the main objective of this project.