Egypt highlights responsible AI agenda at India AI Impact Summit 2026

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy has delivered the country’s address at the Leaders’ Plenary of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, outlining Egypt’s priorities on responsible and human-centric artificial intelligence.

The summit brought together heads of state and government, senior government officials, global technology leaders, international organizations, investors, innovators, and researchers to deliberate on AI governance and international cooperation.

In his remarks, Hendy underscored the strategic relationship between Egypt and India, referencing the longstanding ties between the two countries, including their historic cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement. He said both nations share a responsibility to ensure that artificial intelligence serves humanity and contributes to shared prosperity.

The minister expressed appreciation to the Government of India for hosting the summit and acknowledged its leadership in advancing responsible, human-centric AI. Hendy noted that Egypt was participating as Co-Chair of the Democratizing AI Resources Working Group, emphasizing the importance of expanding equitable access to AI capabilities.

Highlighting Egypt’s domestic progress, Hendy recalled the adoption of the National AI Strategy in 2019, which focuses on integrating AI applications across sectors such as healthcare, education, justice, and government services under the Digital Egypt framework. He stated that these efforts have strengthened AI as a national capability and contributed to Egypt’s advancement of 60 positions on the Government AI Readiness Index since 2019.

Hendy also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to cooperation with African and Arab countries to maximize the developmental impact of AI initiatives. He stressed that countries of the Global South must play an active role in shaping AI-driven transformations through a shared vision that promotes development and human dignity.

Concluding his address, Hendy announced Egypt’s full endorsement of the AI Impact Summit – New Delhi 2026 Declaration. The session was attended by Egypt’s Ambassador to India, Kamel Galal, alongside senior ministry officials.

On the sidelines of the summit, Hendy participated in an official dinner hosted by Narendra Modi, attended by several heads of state, government leaders, and delegation heads.

The India AI Impact Summit is designed to advance a shared international roadmap for AI governance, promote cooperation to harness AI technologies for inclusive growth and social development, and strengthen human-centered innovation while safeguarding environmental sustainability. The event is structured around three guiding principles: People, Planet, and Progress.