Investment and International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr opened on Tuesday an Uber Center of Excellence in Cairo, the first in the Middle East and the third after two established in Europe.

The 20 million-dollar center secures more than 700 direct jobs, the minister said, noting that the Uber company plans to expand its activities to include public transport in the governorates.

She underlined the importance of drafting a bill regulating private transport services booked via smartphone apps.

She said there should be a legal framework of Uber and similar companies operating in the domain.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, the Uber Vice President and Regional General Manager of Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), said the company is committed via its 20-million dollar investments in the coming five years to turn Cairo to a customer support center for the Middle East and North Africa.

He said the Egyptian market is one of the fastest-growing markets in which Uber works worldwide.

Uber has been operating in Egypt since the end of 2014 and over this short period of time, Uber Egypt has become the fastest growing market for Uber in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with Cairo specifically becoming the fastest growing city. Since its launch, Uber managed to create more than 50,000 job opportunities on a monthly basis.

Source: MENA