Cairo: Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad conducted a pivotal meeting with a delegation from Penta-b, a company renowned for its expertise in geographic information systems (GIS), digital transformation technologies, and software development. The discussions focused on exploring avenues for joint cooperation to bolster the state’s initiatives in enhancing local administration, environmental systems, and decision-making processes at the governorate level.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the minister emphasized the Egyptian state’s commitment to digital transformation, highlighting the importance of utilizing modern technology to streamline procedures, improve government efficiency, and increase transparency. This approach aligns with national strategies, particularly in service sectors that directly affect citizens’ daily lives.
The ministry is keen on expanding the application of GIS across various projects and indicators. This expansion is aimed at improving centralized monitoring, supporting informed decision-making, advancing sustainable development goals, and identifying progress and gaps to maximize the impact of development policies.
During the meeting, the vice chairman of Penta-b underscored the company’s role as a provider of technological solutions and applications to several Egyptian and Arab ministries and organizations. These services aid decision-makers by offering spatial data analysis and constructing integrated databases, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of services delivered to citizens.
The meeting further explored a previously implemented pilot cooperation proposal between the ministry and Penta-b. This involved the development of a smart platform designed to aid decision-making. A pilot version of the platform was tested on one of the ministry’s projects, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world settings and improving project monitoring at the ministry level.
This innovative project marks a significant advancement in the management of the ministry’s portfolios. It integrates performance indicators, interconnected databases, geospatial mapping, and AI technologies into a comprehensive interactive dashboard for the first time. The data is securely stored on an internal, closed-source platform, ensuring full control over information and positioning the ministry as a leader in smart government operations within the country.
The minister reiterated that the smart platform is in line with the state’s vision for digital transformation, which seeks to simplify procedures, enhance government efficiency, and promote transparency.