Intel has launched an initiative to raise awareness among Egyptians of information and communication technology.

Part of the initiative is providing computers and technology solutions at suitable prices for consumers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cooperation with a number of partners, including Orange, Raya, Computer Shop, CompuMe, Lenovo, and Dell.

The Egyptian market is the largest in the Middle East and has the largest proportion of students and more than 30 million internet users, prompting Intel to implement its initiative in Egypt as well as four other countries, including China, India, Nigeria and Mexico, according to regional general manager of Intel MENA Taha Khalifa.

Khalifa added that the initiative’s main goal is to encourage SMEs to use information technology, noting that the use of technological solutions would help SMEs to increase their productivity and competitiveness by 10%.

He pointed out that the spread of high-speed internet has contributed to increasing domestic production by 1.4%, according to research conducted by the World Economic Forum.

The first phase of the initiative includes 14 cities and nine universities, while the second phase will be conducted in 14 other cities across Egypt.