U.S. companies participating in the U.S.–Egypt Ports and Maritime Transport Innovation Forum highlighted the importance of trusted technology and partnerships with Egyptian firms to support the country’s infrastructure and trade ambitions.
Paul Diamond, Senior Vice President of Customer Programs at Rapiscan Systems, said choosing American security technology can help facilitate smoother trade with the U.S. and Western markets.
“If you want to trade freely in the world, having an American security system is probably the same as the Americans are actually using in America,” Diamond said on the sidelines of the forum.
He said the use of U.S. security systems can help facilitate trade between Egypt, the United States and other Western markets, given the trust placed in American technology and suppliers.
Diamond acknowledged that some buyers continue to prioritize price over the broader benefits of working with trusted suppliers, but stressed that access to global markets and confidence in security systems are important considerations when selecting technology providers.
Meanwhile, Manish Kothari, President and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based engineering consulting firm Sheladia Associates, stressed the importance of partnerships between US and Egyptian companies in turning the government’s infrastructure ambitions into reality.
“We’ve been in business for over 50 years and have worked in nearly 100 countries,” Kothari said on the sidelines of the forum.
He said forums such as the U.S.–Egypt event provide an important platform for American companies and Egyptian partners to identify and pursue opportunities together.
Kothari pointed to the vision outlined by Egypt’s Minister of Transport Kamel Elwazir and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Mark Mitchell, saying that achieving those ambitions would require close cooperation between US firms and Egyptian companies.
“In order for that vision to be realized, we have to partner between the American firms and the Egyptian local firms, because together we can succeed,” he said.