The Egyptian e-Signature Competence Center (ESCC) of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) completed the e-signature encryption for financing cheques of government agencies at the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).
Through the centre, ITIDA has encrypted the certified data and e-signatures from government agencies to the CBE and government banks linked to that system in order to protect the security of these checks and the data related to them.
The project comes within the framework of ITIDA’s role in spreading the culture of e-signature in Egypt to ease and secure commercial and administrative transactions for individuals, companies, and government agencies.
The project included ESCC preparing the infrastructure for this system within the CBE, government agencies, and public banks linked to the system. This infrastructure is a group of computer servers and encryption-software produced in ESCC, next to service and technical support.
ITIDA CEO Asmaa Hosni stressed the importance of shifting into the digital economy and the need to begin strengthening cooperation to provide government services electronically, which requires the activation of e-signatures to ensure the protection and confidentiality of personal information.
Hosni also urged the need for cooperation of all stakeholders to activate the existing projects and move to securing and encrypting commercial e-transactions considering the impact on the economy, noting that ITIDA aims to achieve a breakthrough in electronic signature services.
ESCC has recently implemented a number of e-signature projects and securing e-mails for a number of government agencies, including the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and Damietta Ports Authority. The centre has also approved the e-signature software at the Ahli United Bank and the Suez Canal Insurance Company.
The centre is also set to implement a number of projects in encryption and e-signature, as well as securing emails for judiciary bodies and the commercial agreement sector of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, along with the Industrial Development Authority and the Ministry of Health.
Established in 2011, the ESCC works on managing and regulating e-signature standards and issues the licenses for electronic transactions activity.
ESCC is the only centre of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to provide e-signature infrastructure services and their applications on different operating systems to achieve integration between the software and the Public Key Infrastructure.
E-signature practices in Egypt are governed and regulated by Law No. 15 of 2004 and its bylaw No. 109 of 2005, including civil, commercial, and administrative transactions that can be completed electronically. This aims to increase the efficiency of e-commerce and upgrade the performance of government services.
