A Digital Signature Act for Egypt: Understanding the Challenges!

1. A Digital Signature Act for Egypt: Understanding the Challenges! Dr. Sherif Hashem Head, Electronic Signature National Committee Ministry of Communications and Information Technology shashem@mcit.gov.eg ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

2. Outline • CIT in Egypt • E-commerce in Egypt • An Electronic Signature Act • The road ahead ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

3. CIT In Egypt ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

4. National CIT Plan (Dec`1999) • CIT Industry Development • Human Resource Development • Communication Infrastructure Development • Information Infrastructure Development ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

5. Internet Access in Egypt • 1M users (estimated) compared to 407MWW (NUA Survey – Nov`00) • Most access is in the capital & major cities • Internet utilization rate of 1 in 65 compared to a WW rate of 1 in 14 • 60+ ISPs • Cost: dialup $25-lifetime  FREE Internet ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

6. Some Key CIT Challenges • Content • Culture • Language • Skills • Access to computers • Access to the Internet • Access to software • Access to technical expertise ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

7. E-Commerce In Egypt Highlights ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

8. Egypt’s E-commerce Highlights • Oct’97 ISE-Ecommerce Committee formed • Aug’98 1st meeting of the National Ecommerce Committee • Sep’98 1st National Seminar on Ecommerce • Sep’99 Ecommerce initiative declared • Oct’99 Ecommerce in the National CIT Plan • 2000-01 Cyber laws (e-signature, e-payment, ..); Government Pilots; Private Portals ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

9. Some Key Issues • Legislation (cyber laws): • Electronic signature • Taxation • Jurisdiction • Encryption, IPR, privacy, consumer protection, etc. • Regulation (Certificate Authorities, etc.) • Banking infrastructure (e-payment) • E-Insurance (financial, commerce, etc.) • E-Education & E-Knowledge ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

10. Some Key Questions?! • Who is responsible for E-commerce? • How can government empower the use of E-commerce? • How can SMEs understand the challenges and opportunities of E-commerce? • How to help create, empower, and support Egyptian E-business models? • Where do we go from here? ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

11. An Electronic Signature Act for Egypt An Overview ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

12. Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: The Process • National Electronic Signature Committee (entities): • Ministry of Communications and Information Technology • Ministry of Justice • Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade • Ministry of Finance • Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Ministry of Interior • Ministry for Administrative Development • Central Bank of Egypt • Cabinet Information & Decision Support Center ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

13. Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: The Process (Cont.) • National Electronic Signature Committee (legal and technology experts): • Governmental, • Private sector, and • Academic ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

14. Drafting an Electronic Signature Act: Some Key Issues • Amending existing laws vs. creating a “new” law • Recognition of electronic/digital documents and signatures • Creation of a state organization for regulatory, licensing, and supervisory roles • General awareness and training programs • Protecting IPR and privacy ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001

15. For More InformationvisitMinistry of Communications and Information Technologyhttp://www.mcit.gov.eg/or e-mail:shashem@mcit.gov.eg Thank You …… ITU E-Commerce Conference for the Arab Region - May 2001