The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has met with a delegation from the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), led by Executive Vice President International at Airbus and head of the French business delegation Wouter van Wersch. The discussions focused on attracting new French investments to Egypt’s ICT sector.
The meeting took place during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Egypt, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and expand cooperation in the field of ICT. The delegation included senior representatives of French companies already operating in Egypt, as well as firms interested in exploring investment opportunities in the country.
The meeting reviewed key investment opportunities in the ICT sector and highlighted the competitive advantages of the Egyptian market, particularly in light of the ongoing expansion of digital transformation projects, the development of digital infrastructure, and the government’s support for digital skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship in ICT fields.
During the meeting, Talaat emphasized the Ministry’s interest in expanding cooperation with French companies across various areas of the ICT sector, including outsourcing and the export of digital services delivered by Egyptian professionals. He noted that over 180 companies currently operate more than 200 delivery centers in Egypt, reflecting the sector’s promising potential.
The ICT Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to build Digital Egypt through a strategy focused on three main pillars: digital transformation, digital upskilling, and digital innovation. These pillars are supported by two key enablers: legislation and governance, and ICT infrastructure.
Talaat added that several strategic objectives are driving the growth of Egypt’s ICT sector. These include increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP, attracting foreign investment, advancing digital transformation across all economic sectors, strengthening international relations through infrastructure and global partnerships, developing digital skills, and adopting policies that support the sector’s expansion.
The ICT sector, Talaat noted, has been the fastest-growing in Egypt for six consecutive years, recording a growth rate of 16.3% and increasing its contribution to GDP from 3.2% in 2018 to 6%. He added that Egypt has held the top position in Africa for average fixed broadband for more than three years and has been classified in Group A of the GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) since 2022, placing it among the leading countries in digital government.
In addition, the ICT Minister explained that the number of trainees in ICT disciplines has increased 125-fold over seven years—from 4,000 in the 2018/2019 fiscal year to a target of 500,000 this year. He also pointed to ongoing efforts to establish Creativa Innovation Hubs in different governorates.
Talaat highlighted ongoing efforts to develop both national and international digital infrastructure. He noted that Egypt’s strategic geographic location positions it as a key data corridor between Asia and Europe, with more than 90% of global data traffic passing through it. He also emphasized MCIT’s commitment to governing the ICT sector by fostering a legislative environment that supports investment and growth.
For his part, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher outlined Egypt’s competitive advantages as a top destination for outsourcing and IT services exports. He gave a detailed presentation highlighting the key factors that make Egypt an attractive option for international investors, stressing the wide range of IT services the country offers, which position it as a leading global hub for service exports.
Assistant Minister for Strategy and Implementation Sherine El-Guindy discussed the key areas of the Digital Egypt strategy and the major projects underway to enhance digital government services, automate government processes and service delivery channels, and equip citizens with digital skills to access better job opportunities in the ICT sector. She also emphasized efforts to create an enabling environment for digital innovation. Additionally, El-Guindy highlighted progress in implementing the goals of the Second Edition of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, focusing on skills development and the introduction of AI applications in priority sectors.
Vice President for Regulatory Affairs and Market Governance at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Amr Abbas highlighted efforts to establish regulatory frameworks for telecommunications service providers, ensuring alignment with advancements in telecommunications technology, and adopting policies to encourage investment.
The meeting featured an open dialogue between the Egyptian and French sides, during which ideas and proposals to strengthen cooperation were exchanged. The leaders of international French companies operating in Egypt shared their success stories in the Egyptian market, commended the talent of Egyptian youth, and expressed their desire to further enhance cooperation and partnership, as well as expand their activities, in light of the promising opportunities within the ICT sector.
The meeting was attended by Assistant Minister for Digital Transformation Mahmoud Badawi, Advisor to the ICT Minister for Technology Talents Development Hoda Baraka, Advisor to the ICT Minister for International Relations Khaled Taha, and Director of the Central Department of International Relations at MCIT Samah Aziz.
