The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has delivered a speech at the “Bridging Borders - A Digital Collaboration” session, as part of MENA ICT Forum 2022, held in Jordan.
The Palestinian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Usama Al-Sadawi and the Palestinian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Ishaq Sider participated in the session. It was moderated by the Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Ahmad Hanandeh.
The ICT Minister emphasized that human development is the cornerstone of the digital renaissance that the Arab nations aspire to achieve. The digital renaissance would only be achieved by preparing a generation capable of harnessing various technologies to serve society. Talaat pointed out that Arab youth can build a digital society when given the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and science.
The ICT Minister explained the efforts made by Egypt to expand its digital talent pool well-versed in ICT tools by launching several initiatives. The initiatives are implemented based on several pillars, including equipping trainees with technical, soft, and language skills and hands-on experiences, empowering them to compete effectively in the local, regional, and international labor markets. This is in addition to providing training in the specializations most in-demand in today’s and tomorrow’s labor markets and establishing partnerships with prestigious international universities and global companies operating in Egypt to offer youth different training tracks.
Talaat also stated that the Digital Egypt strategy, implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), stands on three pillars: achieving digital transformation, digital skills and jobs, and digital innovation. The pillars are based on two main planks: legislative framework and digital infrastructure, which includes mobile phone services and fixed broadband. This is in addition to the international infrastructure, Talaat added, highlighting that more than 90% of the data passing between Asia and Europe cross the Egyptian lands and waters. He underlined that the ICT sector achieved a growth rate of about 16%, the highest among the state’s sectors, for four years in a row.
The ICT Minister added that an integrated training track has been prepared, targeting young people, starting from the first year of preparatory school and up to university students in specialized faculties and different academic disciplines, as well as those who wish to shift their careers. Postgraduate programs are also provided, he added. Furthermore, Egypt University of Informatics (EUI) has been established as the first university specializing in ICT-related fields in Africa. EUI offers dual degrees in collaboration with Purdue University, said the ICT Minister.
Talaat indicated that CREATIVA Innovation Hubs have been established in different governorates to promote creative thinking. The Hubs host entrepreneurs and a series of activities and events, including brainstorming camps, business accelerators, and start-up incubators, in addition to networking events with investors. The ICT Minister added that eight CREATIVA Innovation Hubs have been established and ten others are currently being established, with the aim to reach a total of 30 Hubs nationwide by 2024. He noted that the volume of foreign investments in Egyptian ICT startups increased in 2021, compared to 2019, and is expected to increase further this year.
Held every two years under the patronage of the Jordanian monarch, MENA ICT Forum is one of the most famous and largest conferences focusing on ICT and entrepreneurship in the region. The Forum aims to highlight the role of technology in developing solutions to pressing global challenges, especially with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses many topics, most notably Artificial Intelligence (AI), FinTech, and smart industries.
The Forum also includes an exhibition that features pavilions of local, Arab, and international companies as well as national pavilions that include companies from Egypt and different countries worldwide, offering companies the opportunity to network with Jordanian companies.
