Cairo – Mubasher: Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat discussed with a delegation from the French business association MEDEF International, headed by Wouter van Weersch, Executive Vice President of Airbus and Head of the French Business Mission, ways to attract new French investments to the Egyptian ICT sector .

The meeting came as part of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Egypt, and in light of efforts to deepen economic cooperation between Egypt and France and enhance joint cooperation in the field of communications and information technology. The delegation included leaders of global French companies operating in Egypt, as well as French companies interested in exploring investment opportunities in Egypt .

The meeting reviewed the most prominent investment opportunities available in the communications and information technology (ICT) sector, as well as the competitive advantages enjoyed by the Egyptian market. This is particularly true in light of the expansion of digital transformation projects, the development of digital infrastructure, and the government's support for efforts to build digital capabilities and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of communications and information technology .

During the meeting, Amr Talaat emphasized the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's commitment to expanding cooperation with French companies in various areas of the ICT sector, including outsourcing and exporting digital services, relying on Egyptian talent.

He pointed out that there are more than 180 companies in Egypt establishing more than 200 outsourcing centers in the country, explaining the promising potential of the Egyptian ICT sector in light of the efforts made to build a digital Egypt, which are being implemented within the framework of a strategy that includes three axes: digital transformation, digital capacity building, and supporting digital innovation, and is based on two pillars: preparing the governance framework and developing the digital infrastructure .

He added that there are a number of strategic objectives stimulating the growth of the ICT sector in Egypt, including enhancing the ICT sector's contribution to the gross domestic product, attracting foreign investment, achieving digital transformation across all economic sectors, strengthening international relations through international infrastructure and alliances, building digital skills, and adopting policies that support the sector .

He pointed out that the communications and information technology sector has been the country's fastest-growing sector for six consecutive years, with the sector's growth rate reaching approximately 16.3% and its contribution to the gross domestic product reaching 6%, up from 3.2% in 2018.

He stressed that Egypt has maintained its lead in average fixed internet speeds across the African continent for more than three years, and has also been ranked among the leading countries in digital government, with an 'A' rating on the Digital Government Readiness Index since 2022 .

He explained that the number of trainees in communications and information technology specializations has increased approximately 125-fold over the past seven years, rising from 4,000 trainees in the 2018/2019 fiscal year to a target of 500,000 trainees this year. He also pointed to efforts to expand Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers across various governorates .

Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), reviewed Egypt's competitive advantages as a leading destination in the outsourcing and services export industry, giving a detailed presentation of the key factors that make Egypt a preferred investment option for global companies. He emphasized the diversity of services Egypt offers in the IT sector, making it an ideal destination for global services export .