The emergence of new media companies in Egypt after the Arab Spring is drawing technology giants such as Sony to the country, amid an expected growth in demand for recording equipment.
The Japanese electronics giant says it is targeting TV and film companies, and aims to boost sales of professional equipment in North Africa, as privately owned media companies emerge after decades of close government control of the sector.
Matt Soga, a senior general manager at Sony's Professional Solutions Group, who is based in Japan, said the Middle East had "a lot of growth potential" for the company. That opportunity includes demand from new TV broadcasters in the Arab Spring countries, he said.
"For political reasons, the investment has been frozen or stopped. But now … it is starting again. So we have some high expectations," he said.
Rob Sherman, the managing director for Sony Professional in the Middle East and Africa, said he expected a liberalisation of the media landscape in North Africa.
"Perhaps this year we'll start to see the Arab Spring countries starting to redevelop their media landscape," he said. "With the press freedoms coming out, we should start to see more independent broadcasters developing."
Mr Sherman said Sony had conducted a sales roadshow in Morocco, and planned something similar in Egypt in the next couple of months.
"Egypt is going to be a very interesting case to watch. Now, perhaps, the landscape will become a lot freer," he said.
"The talent base is there, the people capable of making the programmes are there. It could be huge."
He likened the opportunity in North Africa to that of Lebanon in the early 1990s, when, he said, many TV stations launched.
"After the civil war conflict, we were supplying upwards of 20 television stations with our equipment," he said. "
Virtually every little neighbourhood had its own TV station … That's what happened when they were allowed to have their own voice."
Sony Professional Solutions specialises in professional video cameras, editing equipment and monitors.
bflanagan@thenational.ae
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
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ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
