Egypt among best countries exporting IT

Communications Minister Atef Helmy said that Egypt is among the best countries in the Middle East and Europe in exporting information technology. "The growth rate reached 6 percent during this year in the IT field," the minister said during an interview with Al Hayat TV channel on Monday. The IT sector contributed to the gross national product by 3.2 percent and the contribution will increase to 4.1 percent this year at the value of 66 billion pounds, the minister said. The Communications and Information Technology ministry has drawn up a plan to increase the percentage of the IT sector in the GNP to 6 percent during the coming three years, he said. Helmy added that all global companies working in the IT field have investments in Egypt and have centers in Cairo, stressing that Egypt is a pioneer in this sector. He dismissed reports that his ministry received orders to follow up data or information on the internet or to tap land lines or mobile phones.