en.Wedoany.com Reported - Engineer Raafat Hindi, Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, recently outlined the country's next-stage development priorities in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector during a meeting with the Digital Transformation Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo. These priorities include expanding digital infrastructure, accelerating the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), increasing investments in data centers and cloud computing, cultivating digital talent, and optimizing the regulatory environment to attract investors.
During the meeting, Hindi introduced the five pillars of his ministry's strategy: digital transformation, technology localization and job creation, digital infrastructure, digital capacity building, and legislation and governance. He specifically mentioned that the Egypt Digital Platform currently offers 242 services, with the government planning to increase this to over 270 by the end of 2026 and striving to reach approximately 450 by 2030. Concurrently, the ministry is promoting the widespread use of digital identity and electronic signatures, and continuously advancing the automation of government agencies to enhance efficiency and support investment.
In the area of technology localization, Hindi revealed that Egypt's outsourcing and digital services exports in 2025 amounted to approximately $5.2 billion, with a target of increasing this to $8 billion by 2028. The mobile phone manufacturing sector has shown particularly strong performance, with production jumping from 3 million units in 2024 to 10 million units by the end of 2025. It is expected to exceed 15 million units this year, and production capacity is projected to reach 30 million units by 2028, with the localization rate potentially rising to around 45%.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains a strategic priority for Egypt. Following the launch of the second edition of Egypt's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in early 2025, the large language model "Karnak," developed by the Applied Innovation Center, has been deployed and is currently supporting AI applications in the healthcare, agriculture, and education sectors.
In terms of digital infrastructure, Egypt is making continuous investments by allocating new spectrum to mobile network operators, advancing the deployment of 5G services, and expanding fiber optic network coverage. Hindi noted that under the President's "Decent Life" initiative, over 1,250 villages have been connected via fiber optics. Additionally, the ministry is working with relevant stakeholders to develop a national data center strategy aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty and attracting more infrastructure investment, while prioritizing cybersecurity as a key concern.
Regarding digital talent development, Hindi outlined several existing initiatives, including Egypt's Digital Generations programme, the Information Technology Institute (ITI), the National Telecom Institute (NTI), the WE School of Applied Technology, and the Egypt University of Informatics. Future plans will place greater emphasis on advanced training and specialized digital skills aligned with labor market demands.
Data shows that Egypt's ICT sector achieved a growth rate of 20.3% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year, ranking first among all economic sectors. The sector currently accounts for approximately 6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a target of increasing this contribution to 8% by 2030. During the meeting, members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the private sector to support digital transformation and safeguard Egypt's digital sovereignty. Business leaders acknowledged the ministry's progress in accelerating digitalization, enhancing digital competitiveness, developing skills, and expanding data center investments, while emphasizing the importance of promoting freelancing as an integral part of the national digital economy strategy.
