Egypt’s ICT Minister outlines digital transformation priorities at EiTESAL Event

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, has outlined the government’s priorities and achievements in advancing the country’s digital transformation agenda during the seventh edition of the “Meet the Government” event organized by the Egyptian Information Telecommunications Electronics and Software Alliance (EiTESAL).

The event brought together former ICT ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, and representatives from Egypt’s technology ecosystem to discuss developments in the country’s ICT sector and strategies for strengthening digital competitiveness.

In his address, Hendy emphasized the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s commitment to building Digital Egypt as an integrated national vision focused on improving citizens’ lives, enhancing government efficiency, accelerating economic growth, and strengthening Egypt’s position as a global ICT hub.

He stated that the strategy seeks to establish a secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy that supports innovation, attracts investment, expands digital exports, and creates employment opportunities for young people from diverse educational and professional backgrounds.

According to the minister, the ICT sector recorded 18.9 percent growth during the third quarter of the current fiscal year, reflecting continued strong performance within the sector.

Hendy highlighted several strategic priorities, including accelerating digital transformation, promoting local technology development, expanding employment opportunities, building digital skills, and strengthening secure digital infrastructure. He explained that the ministry is shifting from simply digitizing government procedures to fully digitizing citizens’ interactions with government services.

He noted that the Digital Egypt Platform currently offers more than 220 digital services, with an additional 50 services expected to be launched this year. The platform recently introduced an electronic employment record certificate in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor.

The minister also highlighted efforts to improve services for Egyptians abroad in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, as well as initiatives with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade aimed at simplifying business procedures and improving the investment environment.

On the technology and manufacturing front, Hendy stated that Egypt is focusing on three strategic areas: outsourcing services, local manufacturing of mobile phones and electronics, and the adoption of advanced technologies. He revealed that Egypt currently hosts more than 270 outsourcing centers serving global clients and said the country’s offshoring digital exports reached $5.2 billion last year, with a target of $6 billion this year.

He further disclosed that 15 mobile phone brands are now manufacturing in Egypt, with production expected to reach 10 million devices in 2025 and exceed 15 million devices by the end of 2026.

The minister also highlighted Egypt’s progress in artificial intelligence, noting that the country has advanced significantly in the Government AI Readiness Index published by Oxford Insights, becoming the top-ranked African country after rising 60 places since 2019.

He pointed to the development of “Karnak,” an Arabic large language model created by engineers at the Ministry’s Applied Innovation Center to support digital sovereignty and reflect Arab culture and Egyptian identity.

Hendy emphasized the government’s focus on digital skills development, with plans to train 800,000 individuals this year through various digital upskilling programs targeting different age groups and professional backgrounds.

He also outlined ongoing infrastructure initiatives, including the expansion of 5G services, improvements in network coverage, replacement of copper networks with fiber-optic infrastructure, and the extension of telecom infrastructure to rural areas under the Decent Life initiative.

The minister highlighted efforts to create a more investment-friendly environment for data centers, describing them as essential to digital sovereignty and digital transformation. He added that the ministry is working on legislative reforms, including laws governing data accessibility, exchange, and classification, while also collaborating with government entities to strengthen child online safety frameworks.

Hendy further referenced the launch of the Wa3i.net platform in partnership with the United Nations and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood to promote safe internet practices among children and parents through Arabic digital content.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s openness to regional and international cooperation, particularly within Africa and the Arab region, and noted his participation in the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi as part of the Egyptian delegation led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

During the event, EiTESAL Chairman Hossam Megahed highlighted the organization’s efforts to support Egypt’s ICT industry and strengthen the competitiveness of Egyptian companies through regional and international partnerships and participation in global markets.

The event concluded with a panel discussion where Hendy addressed industry questions on artificial intelligence, outsourcing, data centers, digital capacity building, innovation hubs, and support for small and medium-sized ICT enterprises.