‏The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) announces an open call for applications for supporting the exports of Egyptian IT Outsourcing SMEs to the European market program, offered by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) of The Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
‏The 3-year program aims to support Egyptian ITO SMEs in their export journey to the EU by offering technical assistance through a practical business export coaching project. The program also prepares Egyptian companies with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the European market.
‏The beneficiary SMEs will receive 3 years of company coaching provided by international and local experts, and assistance with the creation of an international market strategy. Additionally, the program will provide guidance, advice and coaching the companies on the type of certification suitable for their market entry strategy. It will also help improve the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in addition to offering market orientation support, and finding export business opportunities.
 
‏ITIDA CEO, Amr Mahfouz said: “CBI’s export coaching program is among a set of actions that help achieve our ambitious strategy aiming at tripling the size of Egypt’s BPO and ITO exports over the next five years,”.
 
‏The program targets small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) and Women-led companies in Egypt that offer Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) services, interested in an improved market position in the EU, and want to contribute to an enhanced ecosystem for SMEs, Mahfouz explained.
‏CBI detailed a number of requirements for applying companies including that the SME must be at least 50% or more locally owned or has a local management structure; and that the SME employs at least 10 FTEs and maximum of 250 FTEs.
‏SMEs applicants should also have been active in the ITO industry for at least 3 to 4 years; have no joint venture with a company based in a non-developing country; and no licensing commitments that prohibit or limit the export of products to the European Union. Management of applying companies should also be able to communicate in English. The deadline for completing the application form is 31 January 2022.
 
‏CBI is to finance most project costs. Participants will only bear the cost of travel expenses for European market entry activities; investment in product offers, employees, and certification.
‏The program comes within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) of The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs with The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the Chamber of Information Technology and Communications (CIT), Eitesal Association and Nile University, to launch its comprehensive program to develop the export capabilities of the Egyptian IT SMEs.