Egypt has been adopting a robust strategy and strong course of action in transforming the existing government services and community ecosystem to an entirely digital and data driven ecosystem, to provide public services in a faster and simpler way.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) seeks to create public value, in terms of value for individuals through easy access to government transactions and information, and value for government in terms of doing more for less.

Achieving digital transformation starts with building and upgrading the national information infrastructure. State agencies have cooperated with the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) to build the information infrastructure, helping form a full digital image of citizens’ entitlements.

Big data centers have been also built to host, protect, preserve, and secure data. The centers have been built following the highest technical and insurance standards.

MCIT cooperates with all sectors of the state to achieve digital transformation through two pillars: Provision of services to citizens and improvement of government performance.

All public services are to be provided to citizens digitally, nationwide. Egyptian citizens, anywhere in the country, will be able to receive these services in a digital format. Several methods of online payment of service fees have been made available.

A government intranet has been created connecting government buildings nationwide. More than 33,000 buildings are being connected.

In addition, the Government-to-Government (G2G) system, which facilities electronic sharing of data and/or information systems between government agencies, departments or organizations., has been optimized. State agencies communicate through the system and coordinate operations to deliver services to citizens through a single entity.

Several e-services have been developed and launched for a number of entities, including law enforcement, notarization, personal status, family courts, supply, electricity, agriculture, traffic, real estate registration, Mortgage Finance Fund (MFF), and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

Digital Egypt e-Platform

The Digital Egypt e-platform has been launched to provide better, wider and more effective access to a wide range of public services. A number of fully-digitized services have been launched on the platform, in coordination with the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trading, Ministry of Justice, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Agriculture.

Services available on the platform include traffic, supply, notary, real estate, court, commercial register and real estate tax, social housing, civil status, and licensing services delivered in cooperation with the service-providing entities. This is in addition to other services that will be available gradually.

Citizens can obtain digital government services through four outlets:

• Digital Egypt e-platform https://digital.gov.eg/, http://misr.gov.eg/

• Call Center #15999

• Post Offices

• Mobile Application

Different payment methods have been also made available, including:

• Bank cards

• e-Payment companies

• Mobile wallets

Electronic Signature

The Egyptian Root Certificate Authority (Root CA) has been created under the umbrella of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) by virtue of the Electronic Signature Law No. 15 of 2004. The Law regulates the e-signature system and digital transactions, laying the groundwork for digital transformation and availing IT tools and applications in using e-signature.

The executive regulations of the Law have been amended under the ICT Minister’s Decree No. 361 of 2020 to fast-track the digital transformation plan and realize the national vision of transforming the government into a high-tech digital platform.

e-Signature is a digital means to authenticate a citizen’s identity from anywhere. Services that required face-to-face identity verification and presence at service-providing government entities can be obtained remotely using e-signature.

ITIDA collaborated with ministries and agencies to create government-related and law enforcement applications. In addition, e-government applications were created to serve the relocation to the New Administrative Capital, where each employee will have an e-signature tool to ensure smooth paperless operations in the new work environment.

To shaping active and responsible citizens, MCIT is keen to develop citizens’ capabilities to prepare for the future and respond to the digital transformation era, which is the first step in promoting Digital Egypt. A digital society cannot be built without having the right level, the right expertise and the right number of human resources that will carry this mission.

MCIT took into consideration providing training and building capacities of all society segments, including school and university students, graduates, professionals, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), in addition to Arab and African young people. MCIT also seeks to expand Egypt's skill pool and experiences within the various specializations of the ICT industry.

An integrated strategy has been developed to build a base of digital competences. The training plan is implemented in cooperation with major technology companies and global universities to build digital competences in all fields at various levels and integrate traditional and remote digital learning models.

This strategy is being achieved by following a hierarchical approach that starts with:

• Digital literacy,

• Intermediate technology training programs,

• Advanced technological training programs that aim at preparing a generation of skilled technicians who are able to compete in the labor market, and

• The top of the training pyramid is to award a specialized practical master's degree to thousand learners every year through the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI), which is implemented in cooperation with major technology companies and international universities.

To learn more about MCIT digital capacity building initiatives, kindly click here.

MCIT seeks to build and foster an ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship and spurs creativity. It also endeavors to promote research and development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of ICT to drive sector growth, support sustainable national development and position Egypt as a regional innovation hub. MCIT adopts effective policies on ICT-based innovation through concerted efforts among stakeholders, including the government sector; academic and research institutions; financial institutions; the private sector; entrepreneurs; and the support networks that incubate creative ideas and convert them into value-added products to meet the sustainable development challenges.

Developing the ICT Infrastructure is one of the bases upon which the three main pillars of Digital Egypt are built and high-quality, efficient telecommunication services are provided and maintained.

Egypt enjoys robust and advanced international and national digital infrastructures:

International Infrastructur

Egypt has established itself as a major country of transit for data. Thanks to the country’s unique location, more than 90% of the data passing between Asia and Europe cross the Egyptian land territory and waters.

To retain this position and further enhance Egypt’s role in the global data traffic map, the international infrastructure has been upgraded. The upgrade plan featured four key elements:

1. 1. Expansion in international infrastructure outside Egypt

2. 2. Expansion in international infrastructure inside Egypt

3. 3. Expansion in Africa’s international network

4. 4. Expansion in establishing data centers

National Infrastructure

• Fixed Broadband

• Mobile Phone Services

• Egypt Post