Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced that, in partnership with the business community, it is developing more effective mechanisms to help serious startups overcome challenges related to financing, growth, market access, and attracting and retaining talent. The announcement came during the opening by Raafat Hindi, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, of the sixth edition of the Tech Invest Egypt conference on September 7, 2026.
The conference is organized by the General Division of Digital Economy and Technology at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), under the slogan “Empowering Talent… Developing Investments.” The event brings together representatives of the government, private sector, investors, entrepreneurs, and academic institutions, with sessions discussing investment in the information technology sector, artificial intelligence strategies, startup financing, and the Personal Data Protection Law and its executive regulations.
What did the ministry announce?
Hindi said that the ministry’s role is not limited to encouraging the establishment of new companies, but also includes understanding the obstacles facing companies and developing tools to help them continue operating and expand within Egypt, then access regional and international markets. The ministry’s vision for the coming phase includes accelerating digital transformation, localizing technology, building digital skills, developing infrastructure, strengthening sector governance, and creating an environment supportive of investment and innovation, while preserving digital sovereignty.
The minister noted that the “Creativa Innovation Hubs” operate in more than 20 governorates and provide support beginning with skills development, entrepreneurial thinking, and project incubation, extending to technical, legal, and marketing consultations and connecting companies with investors. He also spoke about preparing infrastructure that enables companies to develop their solutions and integrate securely with government systems, opening greater opportunities for government technology companies.
Artificial intelligence from experimentation to application
The ministry has placed artificial intelligence among the main opportunities for Egyptian companies, with an announced focus on shifting the discussion from the technology’s potential to safe and responsible applications in government and the private sector. Hindi said that Egyptian professionals have developed models and applications in language processing, speech-to-text conversion, translation, and healthcare.
He also announced the experimental launch of the Egyptian large language model “Karnak,” and the “Loghat” and “Belmasry” applications during the previous month. He said that the ministry is working to make advanced computing resources available to researchers and developers, with the aim of building solutions with applicable intellectual property capable of reaching international markets.
An upcoming competition for government solutions
The ministry is preparing to announce a competition aimed at stimulating innovation in artificial intelligence within the state’s administrative apparatus. According to what was stated at the conference, the competition will allow entrepreneurs and startups to submit solutions with developmental impact, with one solution to be implemented in a ministry on a pilot basis before considering expanding the idea to other government entities. Participation details and rules have not yet been announced.
Why does this news matter?
The most important shift in the announcement is linking startup support to two practical tracks: providing the infrastructure and resources needed for development, and opening the way for solutions to be tested within the government. However, the impact of this policy will depend on details that were not settled in the material, such as mechanisms for providing computing resources, the competition’s conditions, the method for evaluating solutions, and data protection when they are implemented in government entities.
At the sector level, the minister said that the growth rate of communications and information technology reached 24.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025/2026, the highest rate in the sector’s history according to his presentation, while outsourcing exports reached $5.1 billion by the end of 2025, with a target of $8 billion by 2028. These figures, along with the announced initiatives, will require follow-up on implementation to assess whether they will translate into companies capable of growth and government applications that are actually used.