Page 76 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Jordan, Egypt Sign Agreement to Enhance Digital Cooperation

A memorandum of understanding signed capabilities in the fields of ICT, as well at international and regional forums
between Jordan and Egypt during the as organizing a Jordanian-Egyptian related to ICT and postal fields, especially
Jordanian-Egyptian Higher Committee's initiative for technological innovation the International Telecommunication
meeting aims to enhance the two and entrepreneurship towards providing Union and the Universal Postal Union. A
countries' cooperation in the field of solutions for the best service of the two Jordanian-Egyptian team will be formed
ICT, the Ministry of Digital Economy countries' projects. As per the agreement, to follow up on the implementation of the
and Entrepreneurship. According to the two parties coordinate their positions agreement, Petra added.
a Ministry statement, the memo was
signed by Minister of Digital Economy and
Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh and
Egyptian Minister of Communications and
Information Technology Amr Talaat in the
presence of Prime Minister and Minister
of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh and his
Egyptian counterpart Mustafa Madbouly.
It is aimed at optimizing the available
capabilities in the ICT and postal fields to
boost the two sides partnerships in several
domains, notably digital infrastructure via
linking the Egyptian international cable
network with Jordan. The memo is also
intended to facilitate expertise exchange
in the fields of digital transformation and
e-payment, the Jordan News Agency,
Petra, reported. The two sides also
agreed on furthering cooperation in the
area of building and developing human

Pakistan’s Cellphone Imports Rise to US$1.3 Billion

According to the data released by the mobile phone assembly segment also their plants in the country. Recently,
Pakistan Bureau of Statistic (PBS) on showed massive progress as it produced Minister for Information Technology and
Tuesday, Pakistan’s cellphone imports 1.21 million mobile phones in just two Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque
went up by 51.5 per cent to $1.311 billion months (January and February) of 2021. said that the government is promoting
in 8MFY21 as compared to $865m in the The output was significantly higher local mobile manufacturing in the country
same period last year. Earlier PBS had compared to just 119,639 mobile phones to bring down the high prices of cell
reported that Pakistan had imported assembled in the entire 2019. According phones. ‘’We want our people to be able
mobile phones worth $1.135 billion during to a statement issued by the Pakistan to buy a good quality mobile phone from
July-January (2020-21) compared to Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Rs8,000 to Rs12, 000 instead of paying
$760.58 million in July-January (2019- on Wednesday, the implementation of Rs50, 000 to Rs100, 000”, said the Minister.
20). According to an official of a mobile Device Identification, Registration and He criticized the previous governments for
company, the mobile phone market is now Blocking System (DIRBS) in 2019 has their irresponsible behavior, saying that
unbeatable with burgeoning demand in the resulted in a noteworthy increase in legal had this move been planned earlier, the
price range of Rs10,000-40,000 in which imports of mobile devices. “These plants prices of the mobile phones would have
many companies are competing with have produced over 25 million mobile been low today and more employment
one another. The increase in the demand devices including 4G smartphones after opportunities could have been generated.
for reasonably priced smartphones can the introduction of DIRBS,” revealed Currently, the telecom sector has come out
be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic PTA. Observing the tremendous as a prominent contributor to the country’s
which forced the people to opt for online results of DIRBS, the government has economy as despite the pressure from
mediums for education, banking and announced a comprehensive mobile Covid19, its share in the national exchequer
shopping. However, with a significant manufacturing policy to compel rose to 129% in 2020 compared to 2019.
drop in cellphone smuggling, Pakistan’s international manufacturers to establish

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