The African Cooperation Committee of the Egyptian Federation of Industries held a strategic partnership meeting with Mideast Communication Systems (MCS), a regional distributor and consultant for cybersecurity solutions in Egypt and Africa. The meeting focused on the role of cybersecurity in the African Free Trade Agreement and launched an initiative to raise awareness among non-specialist government personnel in several African countries about the safe use of IT tools, targeting 100 beneficiaries per government entity.

Key attendees included Tarek Shabaka, CEO at MCS, Yahiya El-Wathik Billah, Head of the Trade Representation Authority, Ihab Awad, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs, and several ambassadors from African countries. Dr. Sherif El-Gabaly, Head of the African Cooperation Committee, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of African ambassadors in strengthening diplomatic relations and economic partnerships.

El-Gabaly emphasized the opportunity to introduce Egyptian companies to the African market and leverage Egypt’s extensive expertise in cybersecurity. He noted the need to address cybersecurity challenges within the Free Trade Agreement to ensure a secure trading environment.

Tarek Shabaka expressed pride in the partnership, noting MCS’s 18 years of experience in cybersecurity consulting and project management. He highlighted the added value of technical support, training, and human resources development that MCS will provide, aligning with their strategic plans for regional expansion and supporting Egypt’s digital transformation vision.

The meeting also discussed implementing comprehensive training programs to enhance awareness among government personnel about safe IT usage and establishing a Training of Trainers program to ensure continuous knowledge transfer in African countries. The event was attended by industry leaders and members of the Egyptian Federation of Industries.