iOCO has announced a strategic alliance with the Egypt-based cloud-native-first PortfolioTech and BARQ Systems, a leading IT services provider in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Together, the three companies will empower and support government and private sector organizations to achieve mission-critical business outcomes through the power of the cloud.
Regionally, governments and private sector organizations are facing rising demand for secure, scalable, citizen-focused digital services. The partnership aims to address and overcome the challenges of legacy infrastructure, security concerns, and fragmented digital strategies. By combining the strengths of regional market access and reach, certified expertise, industry knowledge, and cost competitiveness, the alliance will deliver tailored cloud solutions that enable faster, safer, and more efficient public services.
“Our joint venture with PortfolioTech is all about delivering measurable impact through smarter cloud adoption, skilled human capital, and regionally relevant innovation. This partnership is designed to support businesses at every stage of their digital transformation journey, ensuring solutions are not only technically advanced but also tailored to meet their unique needs,” says Richard Vester, Chief Executive: Cloud at iOCO.
iOCO will provide both technical enablement and strategic investment through its operations in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, allowing PortfolioTech to gain access to world-class delivery capabilities, positioning it as a new regional hub for cloud services, IT outsourcing, and technology innovation.
“Public sector organizations across MENA face an urgent mandate: deliver modern, citizen-centric services while maintaining the highest security standards,” adds Mahmoud Soliman, President & CEO, BARQ Systems.
“This strategic alliance combines proven global expertise with deep regional understanding, enabling governments to accelerate their digital transformation with confidence and impact,” he says.
“Governments and private sector organizations today need more than technology; they need trusted partners who understand their unique challenges and the scale of opportunities ahead. Together, we are offering practical, secure, scalable and cost-competitive pathways to cloud adoption that are designed to deliver real-world impact,” says Dr. Azza El-Shinnawy, CEO of PortfolioTech and former Head of Egypt and North Africa at Amazon Web Services (AWS).
About IOCO
iOCO delivers forward-thinking solutions in Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) by leveraging an extensive team of 5000 experts both in South Africa and internationally. iOCO excels in digital enablement, offering services such as software development, data and analytics, intelligent automation, cloud and security services, as well as testing, quality assurance, and the development of proprietary and innovative applications.
About BARQ Systems
BARQ Systems is a leading IT services provider in the MENA region, specializing in managed services, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and IT infrastructure solutions. With over 30 years of experience, we build partnerships that create lasting value and drive meaningful progress for our clients and the communities they serve.
About PortfolioTech
PortfolioTech is a cloud-native-first IT services company headquartered in Egypt, specializing in cloud-powered transformation, IT outsourcing (ITO), and skilling services focused on emerging technologies. Founded by senior technology leaders with deep regional and global expertise, Portfolio Tech helps organizations accelerate their cloud adoption with quality, speed, and cost efficiency.