Cairo ICT

wards stability in Egypt. Multinationals and countries outside the Middle East started viewing Egypt differently, believing the country will become more vital on all levels in the coming period, and that all adverse effects will present a concrete opportunity for investment and business in the future. Many multinationals operating in Egypt announced that they will not cut down on their investments but will rather rearrange their priorities and continue executing their business programs with the return of normal business trends in Egypt. These reasons were determinants in confirming the new date of the exhibition and forum, in order not to be too early at a time when life is still unstable or too late when all investment, business decisions and government support have been made. France, Cairo ICT 2011 Guest of Honour Country, was the first to lift the travel ban to Egypt after recent events which reiterates the depth of understanding and cooperation between both countries and France’s support for the Egyptian economy. This proves the insight in choosing France for this status at Cairo ICT 2011. France had reserved a large pavilion in the exhibition for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking to find business opportunities in Egypt.