Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi chaired a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Communications and Information Technology Minister Rafeat Hendy, and Major General Hani Mahmoud Mansour, Director of Signals Administration at the Armed Forces. The meeting focused on the executive status of the unified government services card and digital transformation efforts. President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of integrating databases and efficient operation to support the development of government services.
The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the application of the unified government services card, part of Egypt's digital transformation plan to facilitate citizens' access to services. Communications and Information Technology Minister Rafeat Hendy stated that his ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade to develop and support the technical and operational efficiency of the system. The card aims to streamline services and enhance the citizen experience.
Minister Hendy also presented efforts to boost exports in the communications and information technology sector and localize the electronics industry. Egypt aims to increase its digital exports to $8 billion by 2028, with expected growth in outsourcing services to $12 billion by 2029. The government also targets increasing the number of companies operating in electronics design to 120 by 2030.
The meeting discussed the ministry's efforts to provide advanced digital infrastructure for developing smart applications based on artificial intelligence technologies. This aims to maximize developmental returns and deepen the societal impact of these technologies. The Applied Innovation Center, affiliated with the ministry, plays a pivotal role in developing innovative solutions relying on emerging technologies.
President El-Sisi stressed the need to attract and stimulate investments in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, alongside expanding the construction of large data centers as a cornerstone of the digital economy. The government recognizes the significance of these sectors in driving economic growth and development.
The meeting also covered the executive status of the presidential initiative "Digital Pioneers," implemented in collaboration with the Egyptian Military Academy. President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of adhering to accuracy, transparency, and fairness in the procedures for accepting beneficiaries from this initiative, which helps qualify them for jobs required in the labor market.
The discussion included the cybersecurity file, a fundamental component of the digital transformation strategy and an essential element in enhancing trust in digital services. The meeting also touched on the executive status of the government program for artificial intelligence "Krenk," which supports efforts to achieve digital sovereignty and provides a basic base for building generative artificial intelligence applications in the Arabic language.
Key points
- Egypt targets $8 billion in digital exports by 2028
- The government aims to increase the number of electronics design companies to 120 by 2030
- Cybersecurity is a fundamental component of Egypt's digital transformation strategy
