Article 2 A public authority called the Information Technology Industry Development Authority (ITIDA) shall be established. The authority, which shall enjoy public corporate personality, shall be affiliated to the Minister with policy jurisdiction. ITIDA's headquarters shall be located at the Giza Governorate premises and may establish branches nationwide. Article 3 The Authority aims at achieving the following objectives: a) Encouraging and developing information and communications technology b) Transferring and using advanced information technology c) Increasing opportunities for exporting communications and information technology services and the products thereof. d) Participating in the development and improvement of entities operating in the ICT field. e) Directing, encouraging and developing investments in the ICT industry f) Protecting the common interests of information technology activities g) Supporting ICT research and studies and encouraging utilization thereof. h) Promoting and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the area of using and applying the electronic transaction mechanisms (applications). i) Regulating the activities of e-signature services and other activities in relation to e-transactions and the information technology industry. Article 4 The Authority shall have the authority required to achieve its goals particularly the following: A. B. C. D. E. Issuance and renewal of licenses required for operating e-signature services and other activities of e-transactions and IT industry fields in accordance with the laws and regulations regulating thereof. Setting out the e-signature standards/ criteria to control e-signature technical specifications. Receipt of complaints related to e-signature, e-transactions and IT activities; taking necessary actions in this regard. Evaluation of entities operating in the field of IT and identifying the technical capabilities of such entities based on the evaluation results. Provision of technical advice on the disputes that occur between the parties involved regarding e-signature, e-transactions and IT activities. 3