Assiut, 25 August 2019 - The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr
Talaat and Assiut Governor Gamal Nour El-Din have witnessed the signing of a contract between the Egyptian Silicon
Industries Company (SICO) and Silicon Waha, for getting new expansions to increase the production capacity of SICO
factory for smart phones and tablets, in New Assiut Technology Park.
The contract was signed by Silicon Waha CEO Sameh Al Mallah and SICO Chairman Mohamed Salem.
The signing ceremony was attended by the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Hala
El Gohary, the ICT Minister’s Advisor for Technology Parks Sherine El-Guindy, and a number of officials of the
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
Talaat, Nour El-Din and Salem took a tour inside SICO factory to explore the company’s products and future plans,
within the new expansions. During the tour, Talaat met with the factory workers from Assiut and neighboring
governorates.
The ICT Minister highlighted the significance of providing training for young people to unleash their innovations.
He praised the professionalism shown by Upper Egypt’s youth, workers of the factory.
Talaat said that expanding and adding a new production line to meet the local market and export needs shows that the
Egyptian product is capable of competing and having an outstanding marketing share.
In addition, Talaat added that some African countries are interested to mimic this experience, which reflects
Egypt’s leadership in designing and manufacturing electronics. He said that Egyptian youth excel in designing
electronics that represents an added value. Work is under way to increase the number of employees in this field.
Al Mallah underlined that the expansions mentioned in the contract reflect the success achieved by SICO products in
the Egyptian and African markets during the last short period. He ascertained that Silicon Waha is committed to
provide all infrastructure equipment and supplies needed for the intended expansion in SICO. This will benefit the
national economy and create more job opportunities for young people in Upper Egypt.
Salem acknowledged Silicon Waha keenness on providing equipment and supplies for technology parks, helping create an
enabling environment for incubating all the IT industry elements, from startups to factories. He said that the new
expansion aims to increase the factory production to meet the local market needs and export orders, in addition to
producing televisions and e-payment devices.
SICO factory currently includes more than 1,000 employees and workers, producing around one million mobile phones
and tablets, on annual basis. The surface area, over which the factory extends, is expected to reach 10,000 square
kilometers, and the factory is to provide over 300 jobs for young people in Upper Egypt.
The signing came as part of the tour that the ICT Minister took in New Assiut Technology Park, to open and inspect a
number of ICT projects and follow up on the progress in developing and equipping its buildings. Talaat is due to
open a customer service center for Orange in the technology park, later.
