Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has met with Ali El-Farmawi, vice president of Microsoft's Egyptian operations to discuss the country's economic prospects and the vital role the IT sector can play in future development.

Maged Osman, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said the meeting also looked at ways of taking advantage of Egyptians in important positions at home and abroad who are willing to help their country during its transitional period. Osman estimated the number of influential Egyptians living overseas at over one million.

Osman, who attended the meeting, said discussions also centred on how to capitalise on the capabilities of Egyptian IT companies to combat current turmoil in the country's economy.

He also said he will meet Egyptians living abroad to discuss their possible contributions.