Arab Finance: Talib Mustafa Al-Mallah, co-founder of XApps Company For digital transformation services, by establishing free zones for the software sector in Egypt while facilitating investment procedures in this sector.
Al-Mallah added, during an exclusive interview with Arab Finance, that tax facilities should be provided to… Start-ups working in the technology sector, stressing the importance of digital security, especially when dealing with government data, as it is preferable to protect the security of this data to deal with Egyptian companies, indicating that the company aims to expand in Egypt during the coming period. And the text of the dialogue:
At the beginning of our interview, we learned about the activity of XApps and what is its main goal?
XApps Company is an Egyptian company that has been operating in the market since 2009. The idea of ​​establishing the company began with the aim of providing added value in marketing. Most of these services were provided by companies outside Egypt at this time, so we thought of providing these services to serve the internal market in Egypt as well as the Arab market. In the Gulf, the company has implemented many applications in the field of digital transformation in Egypt and outside Egypt, including a number of government sectors such as the Egyptian Ministry of Justice and the Egyptian Fatwa House, as well as some emerging companies and private sector companies such as El Sewedy and Arab Contractors. Zanussi, as well as some civil society organizations such as the Resala Association. Our philosophy of digital transformation is based on creating digital services from beginning to end, meaning that if there is a challenge or problem with a company, we begin to transform this problem into an application using the Android system, iPhone, or the web, and in the event of a need to add new technologies such as artificial intelligence, we do so. Also, in addition to the Internet of Things, protecting information security, encrypting digital content, or using robots, as well as using virtual reality, or what is known as augmented reality, we provide companies with solutions to the existing crisis or problem with the possibility of linking them to any other systems so that integration occurs.
How do you see the importance of digital transformation for the Egyptian economy?
The use of digital transformation in Egypt has contributed to saving expenses, effort and time, and has contributed to not wasting resources and improving production methods based on the data and information provided to our company while improving work cycles within institutions, and thus this leads to saving more time and shortening many steps that used to take months. To be implemented in a much shorter period of time, which increases the production process. The uses of digital transformation have also benefited us in increasing sales for some companies and institutions, due to the diversity that technology has brought about in different methods of marketing. In Egypt, the state is currently moving towards digital transformation technologies in most government institutions, especially with citizens and investors suffering from bureaucracy, which will of course lead to increased productivity and also makes it easier for the state to make information available and provide, which facilitates information-based decision-making.
What are the most important electronic applications implemented by XApps in Egypt?
XApps has implemented many applications inside Egypt, such as what we did with the Ministry of Justice in providing the Legal Encyclopedia, which is an electronic library that is available to both judges and prosecutors, which helps them obtain legal texts and refer to them as an electronic legal source and alternative quick reference. For the paper reference in libraries, which requires more time and effort to obtain, judges and prosecutors are currently using this application. We have also implemented, with the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments and the Egyptian Fatwa House, an electronic application through which fatwas issued by the Egyptian Fatwa House, prayer times and the call to prayer can be provided and made available. This application is also currently being worked on, and there are projects we are working on during that period, such as the National Network for Safety and Emergency, which is an independent network that deals with… Road safety.
How do you see the challenges facing digital transformation in Egypt?
One of the most prominent challenges facing the technology and digital transformation sector is the presence of a shortage of programmers and technological competencies who possess high skills, which requires providing the necessary training during the university period to graduate more of these competencies. The most prominent challenges facing this sector are digital security and cybersecurity, which requires Egyptian government companies to take this into account, especially with regard to some information in order to preserve privacy and protect information security. In this case, it is preferable to deal with Egyptian companies instead of foreign companies, which is a current trend of the state. Recently, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the B1, or data and cloud computing center, for government agencies on Egyptian servers instead of placing them on servers outside Egypt.
How do you evaluate investment in technology sectors in Egypt?
It is first necessary to facilitate customs release procedures for some electronic tools, materials, and production supplies that some technology companies import from abroad, with the state taking into account the skills that must be acquired by graduates of technological universities, in order to support this industry. I propose establishing free zones for the software sector, with some tax exemptions and facilities for this. Technology sector.
How do you see the importance of startups operating in the technology sector?
One of the advantages of startup companies operating in the technology sector is that these companies grow very quickly and can reach from local to international, so they are important in the Egyptian economy and contribute to the economic growth of the country, especially with many investors heading to pump investments into these startup companies, and these companies need to start their work. For some tax facilities, the state should encourage these companies so that Egypt is a competitive market for neighboring countries such as the Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which currently attract many of these companies, and provide them with all facilities to operate on their lands. I propose here to provide a flexible and easy tax system to deal with these emerging companies.
What are the company's future plans?
We are seeking in the company to expand during the coming period by increasing the number of employees in the company and pumping more investments into the technology sector, in conjunction with many projects that we will work on during the coming period.
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