Engineer Raafat Hendy, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, affirmed that the current edition of the Cairo ICT exhibition and conference aligns with the state's orientation toward employing advanced technologies and artificial intelligence across various productive and service sectors to raise performance efficiency and improve the quality of citizens' lives. In an extensive interview, he pointed out that the communications sector achieved a record growth rate of 19.3% during the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
Digital Transformation and Infrastructure
Regarding the digital transformation file, the minister explained that the Digital Egypt platform currently includes about 250 government services, with a target of reaching 270 services by the end of 2026, and 400 services by 2030. This runs parallel to developing the communications system and mobile stations, and providing new frequencies for the four mobile companies with an investment value of about 3.5 billion dollars to support fourth and fifth-generation networks.
Data Centers and Artificial Intelligence
Within the framework of enhancing digital sovereignty and exploiting Egypt's strategic location, Hendy indicated the approaching launch of the National Strategy for Data Centers before the end of 2026, which aims to establish between 5 to 7 mega data centers. He also touched upon developing national artificial intelligence applications through the Applied Innovation Center, such as the 'Karnak Chat' system and the 'Balmasry' platform for Arabic language processing.
Development of Digital Exports and Outsourcing Industry
On the front of digital exports, outsourcing exports reached about 5.2 billion dollars during 2025, while total digital exports reached 7.4 billion dollars, amid plans to increase outsourcing exports to 8 billion dollars in 2028 and digital exports to 12 billion dollars by 2030 through focusing on high-value-added services such as software development, cybersecurity, and embedded systems.
What does this development practically represent?
This trend reflects a practical shift toward linking infrastructure and communications projects with increasing economic returns and creating real job opportunities for youth, alongside the regulatory balancing between the sustainability of corporate investments and protecting the rights and interests of citizens in obtaining high-quality services.