Naguib Sawiris

The only quiet time of the day for the chairman of Orascom Telecom and Orascom Technology Systems is at 7 a.m. Soon after, when he finishes sipping his morning coffee and reading a stack of newspapers, he heads for the door, grabs his mobile phone and turns it on. It is then that his day has officially begun. Once he enters the office, he is catapulted into a day of meetings, negotiations, reading mail, and signing deals. 
His day may seem like that of an ordinary businessman, but this is no conventional chairman. This is Naguib Sawiris, a pioneer in Egypt, and innovator in the business world. As chairman, he has made his mark on the industry. And with the millennium fast approaching, Sawiris makes plans to out-do what he did in the 20th century.

Sawiris entered the technology arena in the early 1980s, representing the likes of Microsoft, HP, IBM, Compaq, and Dell, to name a few. If they came to the Middle East, they came to Orascom. 
“The computer industry [was] the driving force behind the high-tech revolution. [It pushed the] Internet and wireless communications to the forefront of consumers minds,” says Sawiris.

After establishing solid relationships with industry leaders in the IT world, he moved to telecommunications. He recognized the importance of high-quality service and understood the devastating effect government bureaucracy could have on the growth and development of the technology boom.
“The future is today, and if we don’t make bold steps now, we won’t realize our full potential,” he says.
Sawiris recognized that production would be hampered if he didn’t go wireless. He also saw a need for service in countries that were desperate for any type of communication. But most of all, he wanted Middle Eastern and African nations to have a chance to be high-tech enough to communicate with the rest of the world. He believed Egypt had the resources at hand to meet first world standards, and credited Egypt’s skilled workforce, saying it is competent to achieve his goal. For this reason, he shuns the idea of bringing in foreign high-level management.

“I don’t see the need for import management. We have a pool of people who are ambitious, capable and smart enough to compete with the caliber and likes of those from abroad,” he says.
However, Sawiris agrees there is room for improvement. He understands that local laborers may not have the background and education needed to bolster the company. Nonetheless, Sawiris wants to mold these workers to become the best in their field.
“I want nothing more than to produce the strongest people from this region, not only to improve their technology skills but to provide better incomes and add real value by utilizing people as our intellectual weapons,” he adds. 

Some may say Sawiris didn’t choose telecom, but rather telecom chose him. He integrated information technology (IT) with communications, enhanced database and network integration through satellites, the Internet communications, and eventually moved to a wireless environment. The transition was a natural extension of his business. 

Now, as the millennium is upon us, Sawiris reflects on how the telecommunications market in Egypt will evolve. He says he expects the mobile industry to continue its explosive growth, noting that currently, Egypt hovers at around 1 percent mobile penetration of the entire population. 
“So, there is a lot of room to grow,” he says.

He expects, with increased competition, that the price of handsets and mobile services will drop, allowing more Egyptians to be able to afford a mobile phone. 
The possible affordability of these products pleases Sawiris, because he believes that all Egyptians should have access to communication, whether it is fixed-line payphones or mobiles. Sawiris views the government playing a critical role in this advancement, as it has in the last two years by privatizing the telecommunications sector. 

“I am very optimistic about the new ministry and the vision of the communications minister, in particular. By being an industry insider, he will impact the next millennium and open opportunities and activities that Egypt is ready for,” he says.
Better opportunities, advancement and, on the whole, a better country to live in all inspire Sawiris. Those around him know its not about the money, its about the achievement. His concern is the achievement and making his country more technologically advanced. He dreams of putting Egypt on the map as a Middle Eastern technology hub. To him, success is all about helping Egypt become the best it can be, and about him being the best at what he does.