Mohamed El Zomor: ”We Focus on Accelerating Digital Transformation… and Contribute to Building a Generation of Technological Competencies to Serve the Region”
: Interview
Fatma sweiry - Amr El Nady
Photography: Ahmed Fawi
Mohamed El Zomor is one of Egypt's promising talents in the technology sector. He enjoys the trust of the global company Dell Technologies, which recently chose him to lead its operations in the Egyptian market, succeeding a distinguished career in leadership positions within the company, most notably in Saudi Arabia, where he played a pivotal role in supporting Dell's regional expansion. With his return to Egypt, El Zomor is now responsible for leading the company's efforts to support digital transformation, develop technological infrastructure, and enhance cooperation with both public and private sectors.
? What are Dell Technologies' priorities in the Egyptian market for the coming period
Our primary focus, currently and in the future, is to support Egypt's digital infrastructure. We believe that infrastructure is the foundation for every digital transformation process. Therefore, we are working to provide integrated solutions that cover all levels, from Cloud to the Edge and Data Centers. Dell Technologies keeps pace with data wherever it is, and we provide effective management and maximum utilization for it, which has become a necessity given the rapid global growth in data volume.
? How do you see your role in supporting digital transformation within Egypt
Digital transformation in Egypt is going through a crucial phase, and Dell is working to accelerate this process through its partnerships with both the public and private sectors. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed significant progress in implementing massive national projects, and these projects were affected by the global economic crisis. However, we now see a strong return of these projects within the framework of Egypt's Vision 2030, and we are part of this transformation, not just as a technology provider, but as a development partner.
? Artificial intelligence has become a pivotal global issue… How does Dell deal with this file
For us, artificial intelligence is not just a product we sell; it's a national agenda. We focus on spreading the culture of artificial intelligence and enhancing its understanding as a tool to improve productivity and work efficiency. We are working on awareness and training projects in this field, and we have partnerships with more than 14 universities in Egypt to develop curricula and train faculty members and students on AI technologies, with the aim of creating qualified cadres for the future.
? What is Dell's role in supporting education and the Egyptian labor market
We have effective initiatives with Egyptian universities called University Relations. Through these, we first train faculty members, then move on to training students. We started this initiative more than 3 years ago in major universities such as GUC, Cairo, and Alexandria, and we are working to develop curricula to include concepts of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. We also work to support Egyptian skills to be globally competitive.
? How would you describe the role of your Center of Excellence in Egypt
Our Center of Excellence in Cairo is a true success story. It currently serves clients in Europe, Japan, and the United States in more than 23 languages. We don't need to export engineers; instead, we export services from Egypt to the world. We have a highly efficient Egyptian team providing technical support and services to multiple markets.
? What challenges do you face in the Egyptian market
There are several challenges. The first is the rapid pace of technological development, which requires constant readiness from infrastructure and human resources. Second, currency stability was a significant challenge, and thankfully, it has started to improve, which has helped move major national projects forward. Third, regional competition for Egyptian skills, as countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are strongly attracting talents. Retaining these talents in Egypt is a big challenge.
? How do you deal with the strong competition in the market
The Egyptian market is very attractive to technology companies, and competition in it is fierce. However, we distinguish ourselves by offering integrated solutions, not just selling products. We are number 1 globally and locally in storage and server solutions, with a market coverage of up to 96%. This leadership comes from our customers' trust in us and our ability to provide effective and sustainable solutions. Competition is beneficial because it stimulates innovation and ultimately benefits the customer.
? What new Dell products are being introduced to the Egyptian market
We constantly introduce advanced solutions that align with market needs. In recent months, we've launched new server devices and advanced storage solutions,