SelectUSA Tech programme concludes in Egypt by 1st-ever tech startup competition

Scott Pozil, minister counsellor for commercial affairs at the US Embassy in Cairo, shared this in a short interview with Ahram Online during the conclusion ceremony of the SelectUSA Tech programme held on Thursday. 

The programme is a US government initiative provided by the US Department of Commerce to facilitate business investments that create jobs in the United States. It has helped create and sustain over 200,000 jobs in the US.

SelectUSA programme offers the SelectUSA Tech initiative, which helps qualified international startups develop innovative technological products and services to expand into the US market within 2-3 years. 

The US Embassy in Cairo will sponsor the winner by sending them away to attend the SelectUSA Tech competition in the United States and the National Harbour Summit scheduled for 11-14 May in Maryland, USA.

“This initiative allows Egyptian tech startups to present their vision in the US and explore the possibility of establishing operations there. The diverse and expansive US market offers a unique platform for these companies to test and scale up their products," Pozil explained to Ahram Online.

"We aim to support their growth not only in the United States but also in Egypt and beyond,” he added.

Ruben Harutunian, minister counsellor for public affairs at the US Embassy in Cairo, said that this programme is an opportunity to expand the business of the Egyptian startups beyond Egypt and the Middle Egypt or Africa. 

“A big audience in the United States will be on it. And not only do we want to champion the best and brightest, but we also particularly focus on inspiring women leaders and students to give them special opportunities in this special education programme and other programmes in the North,” he concluded.