The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) participated in
the regional expert meeting on the Arab ICT Strategy/Arab Digital Agenda and the National Digital Development Reviews, hosted by Egypt and co-organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the League of Arab States (LAS), on May 23-26, in Cairo. MCIT chaired the national group on the preparation of Egypt's National Digital Development Review, which reviewed the Egyptian experience as part of ESCWA Arab Digital Development Report (ADDR) 2022.
The meeting provided an opportunity for partnering countries and organizations to review the progress and the latest developments made in the field, to benefit from lessons learned, and to accelerate the completion of national digital development reports. The meeting covered three main focus areas: the interrelationship between the Arab Digital Agenda, national digital development reports and ADDR 2022; follow up on progress on the national digital development reports, lessons learned and the exchange of experiences among the countries joining the project; and details of the third draft of the Arab Digital Agenda in preparation for the finalization of the semi-final draft.
Egypt has been always keen on cooperating with Arab countries in digital development, whether by developing an Arab digital agenda and strategy, or through presenting its experience in ADDR 2022. The meeting highlighted the efforts made by the national group on the preparation of Egypt's National Digital Development Review and the significant role of ADDR in shedding light on the progress achieved in digital development.
Egypt’s participation will positively reflect on the country’s position in regional and international indices of digitization and technology, augment its economic gains, and enhances its global standing. The meeting reviewed the Egyptian methodology followed since the work on Egypt's National Digital Development Review started in December 2021 and up to May 2022 to complete the final draft of the Review. The efforts, meetings, and actions that took place during that period were emphasized as well.
ESCWA representatives and participating countries hailed the Egyptian methodology and the efforts made to develop the National Digital Development Review. They also commended the Egyptian vision and determination that served as an exemplary model for other Member States to follow.
Those national efforts resulted in forming the national group on the preparation of Egypt's National Digital Development Review, which brings together representatives of 31 ministries, government and government agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
These entities include MCIT, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Egypt Post, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the Central Agency for Organization and Administration (CAOA), the National Council for Women, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), Al-Azhar Institution, the National Press Authority (NPA), the National Media Authority (Maspero), the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC), the Digital Economy and Technology General Division (DETGD) of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), the Arab Council for Social Responsibility (ACSR), and the Egyptian Information, Telecommunications, Electronics, and Software Alliance (EITESAL).
It is worth noting that the first ADDR was released in 2019 under the title “Arab Digital Development Report 2019: Towards Empowering People and Ensuring Inclusiveness”. It featured 10 countries: Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tunisia, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Kuwait and Mauritania.
Egypt is participating in ADDR for the first time this year. ADDR 2022 includes 16 countries: Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Mauritania.
