Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, has underscored the importance of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, citing its role in improving public services, advancing digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), increasing exports and attracting investment.
Madbouly made the remarks on Saturday while opening the Cairo ICT 2026, held from 7 to 10 November at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo under the theme “AI in Action”.
He described Cairo ICT as a key platform for government institutions and local and international companies to showcase emerging technologies and exchange expertise and ideas.
During a tour of the exhibition, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy outlined the ministry’s efforts to implement the Digital Egypt strategy and harness advanced technologies to improve quality of life, strengthen digital sovereignty and support economic growth.
Hendy said the sector’s priorities in the AI era focus on both citizens and the state. These include expanding affordable high-speed internet access, simplifying digital government services, creating jobs, developing digital skills, enhancing cybersecurity and strengthening national AI capabilities.
By 2030, the sector aims to create 200,000 jobs, support 250 AI-based start-ups and manufacture 30 million mobile phones locally, with 30% of output designated for export, he said.
Additional targets include attracting five to seven AI data centres, expanding fibre-optic coverage to 55%, rolling out 5G services across all governorates and providing more than 500 digital government services through the Digital Egypt platform.
The ministry also aims to increase digital exports to $12bn by 2030 and raise the ICT sector’s contribution to GDP to 8%, Hendy added.
