El Sewedy: Investing Big in Data Centers to Power Egypt's Digital Industry Shift

Eng. Ahmed El Sewedy, Chairman of El Sewedy Group, emphasized that investing in digitalization and software has become an absolutely essential element for keeping pace with global developments in the industrial sector and boosting production efficiency within Egyptian companies. He stressed that clearly defining goals and direction is crucial for everyone, whether they are recent graduates, long-time employees, or business owners. This came during a panel discussion titled “From Infrastructure to Intelligence: When Physical Capability Transforms into Strategic Power” at the Engineerex Egypt summit. During the session, El Sewedy showcased his group's experience in creating an internal department for information technology and software management. The goal was to integrate digitalization with industrial operations and enhance operational efficiency. He explained that today's industry cannot be separated from the digital and technological path, and that digital transformation has become a benchmark for survival and competition. El Sewedy also pointed out significant challenges in the job market, anticipating a severe global labor shortage. He noted that Egyptian talent is being heavily recruited internationally, which means local companies absolutely must provide an attractive environment and a clear career path to retain their skilled workforce. He affirmed that keeping employees happy no longer depends solely on salaries, but also on professional development, knowledge, and offering clear opportunities for career growth. He highlighted that tackling inflation pressures and export costs requires companies to transform into smart entities that rely on technology. This way, each employee can accomplish tasks equivalent to five people's work, ensuring continued competitiveness and a better future for workers. He added that data integrity and accuracy have become fundamental to any digital transformation strategy, as data is no longer just ordinary information but a strategic resource that can be leveraged to boost productivity and make better decisions. Regarding implementation mechanisms, El Sewedy confirmed that his group is adopting a gradual approach, starting with internal digital transformation and investing in data centers to handle the massive amount of information. This mirrors the huge global investments seen in this field. Concerning international competition, he noted that the shift towards smart factories and robotics has become a global trend adopted by companies like Siemens and ABB. He acknowledged that Egypt is relatively behind compared to advanced countries such as Germany, America, and China, but he emphasized that the Egyptian market can catch up with this transformation if the right policies and strategies are adopted.