A Seminar has taken place at the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University hosted by Dean Dr. Ali Abdul Rahman, Vice Dean Dr. Ahmed Bahgat and Dr. Mohamed Megahed Director of the Center for Advancement of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering sciences where 3 presentations were delivered by Dr. Slim Tlatli, Dr. Hany El-Ghazali Contract / Log frame Manger and Mrs. Dalia Salem European Information Correspondence Center manager.

The objectives of the seminar was to provide a clear understanding of the Industrial Modernization Programme (IMP), Information services provided by the European Information Correspondence Center (EICC) about Europe to both Academia & Industry, and to articulate the European Commission (EC) regulations pertinent to tender procedures.

The seminar started with Dr. Taltli's presentation about IMP and the imperatives of the new era that Egypt is entering. Stating the requirements of such an era, and stressing that for Egypt to meet those requirements, competition and increasing competitiveness will be the gateways enabling Egypt and the Egyptian private manufacturing sector to survive.

Followed by a Questions and Answers session revolving around the need for the Egyptian manufacturing sector to survive in a healthy business environment that allows it to grow and mature. There was further explanation on the importance of market research and identifying an industrial positioning so as to increase exports to target markets.

The panel of 56 invitees was then given a presentation about the EICC by Mrs. Dalia Salem explaining to them how they can gather industrial information about Europe and how they can benefit from the center.

This was followed by Dr. Hany El-ghazaly's presentation about the EC tendering procedures explaining the types of service contracts ranging from less than 5000 Euros, between 5000 and 200.000 Euros to more than 200.000, he stressed that it is the IMC obligation to ensure that contract awarding is conducted in a transparent manner, based on objective criteria and disregarding any possible external influences.

A Questions and Answers session revolved around those procedures and whether staff members of the faculty can apply to become consultants serving IMC clients. Dr. Hany explained that this could be achieved through registering as individuals on the IMC database or framework contractor's database; the other solution I to apply through Centers of Excellence within universities as they have both the expertise and the capability to fulfill EC tendering procedures.