India and Egypt yesterday inked seven agreements, including for setting up a centre of excellence in Information Technology at Cairo’s Al Azhar University, after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi.
Both sides signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Information and Communication Technology, including in e-governance and e-education, IT and electronics hardware, sharing of experiences in the creation of Technology Parks and IT clusters.
A MoU on cooperation in cyber security was also inked for “exchanging information on all aspects of cyber security and supporting each other in taking appropriate measures in order to prevent cyber security incidents”.
The centre for excellence in IT in Al Azhar University will see India provide the human resources, as well as the hardware and software to set up a centre for the training of upto 500 students per year. Egypt will facilitate the establishment of the centre including provision of space and logistical support.
Both sides inked an MoU for cooperation in the field of micro and small enterprises, to facilitate sharing of information, meetings between enterprises, technology transfers and to provide consultation services to enhance the abilities of business enterprises of India and Egypt.
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and Egypt’s ministry for antiquities affairs inked an MoU for joint activities, sharing of information and exchange of expertise through conferences, workshops, joint projects and to prevent illicit traffic of antiquities.
Both sides also agreed to upgrade a vocational training centre at Shourba El Kheima, Cairo, under which the National Small Industries Corporation will provide technological the upgradation required in the area of spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing technology.
Both sides also signed a letter of intent on solar energy cooperation under which 8.8 kilowatt of power would be provided using solar energy to 40 households in a village in Siwa located in Martrouh in Egypt. Both sides also inked a Letter of Intent for launch services of the Egyptian Nano Satellite EGYCUBESAT-1 on board India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle by Antrix Corporation Ltd.
Suez Canal project
Earlier, Egypt pushed for India to join its ambitious Suez Canal corridor project. Mursi said he welcomed India’s contribution in the Suez Canal corridor project that is aimed to become a bridge connecting Africa with Asia. The 190km project once ready would make Egypt a hub for India’s exports to the West and boost Indian exports to $200bn, he said.
