A recent analysis by the Arab Advisors Group suggests that Egypt and Jordan shuold merge their IT labor markets.

AMMAN, Jordan, Dec. 17, 2000 -

The Arab Advisors group has finished examining the telecom, IT and Internet markets of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan and has detailed its findings in comprehensive reports available for the company’s Strategic Research Service subscribers. These five reports are GCC E-commerce Primer, Jordan Internet landscape, Jordan Projections, Egypt Internet landscape and Egypt projections. Today, the Arab Advisors Group released a research note pointing out the potential for cooperation between the three Arab countries in attracting IT investments and activities.

The note suggests that Egypt and Jordan must liberalize the labor laws for the IT sector between them. This, according to the Arab Advisors Group, would make it easier for companies to relocate into either of the countries and will enhance the combined IT attractiveness of the three countries of Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

The Arab Advisors Group notes that around 11,000 IT and computer science students graduate from Egyptian and Jordanian universities every year. IT companies whose sales and marketing operations are in Dubai – a regional trade hub- would appreciate the chance to relocate their development work to Jordan and Egypt instead of bringing expatriate workers into the United Arab Emirates at much higher costs. Combining the pool of IT workers in Egypt and Jordan would guarantee that that the two countries do not become competitors but complementary players.

"The casual observer may think that the three countries are competing. Yet a close examination by Arab Advisors Group, based on up to date primary research in the three markets, reveals that the countries have complementary offerings rather than competitive ones. These relate to issues of human resources, legislation, banking infrastructure and telecom and datacom infrastructure" said the Arab Advisors Group research note.

The research note included a top-level comparison table of the three Arab countries as seen below:

Exhibit 1: Snap shot of the three friends! December 2000

Source: Arab Advisors Group