Egypt’s Ministries of Communications and Information Technology and Culture have signed a memorandum of understanding to digitize and make available over 11,300 books from the National Library of Egypt through the “Egypt Digital Heritage” platform. The agreement, signed by Raafat Hindy, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Infrastructure, and Osama Talaat, Chairperson of the Egyptian National Library and Archives, was witnessed by Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Ahmed Hanno, Minister of Culture.
This initiative aims to enhance Egypt’s digital cultural content and strengthen the nation’s cultural leadership. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology conducted the digitization process, adhering to technological standards and intellectual property rights. The “Egypt Digital Heritage” platform will make these cultural resources accessible to the public, contributing to the dissemination of Egyptian culture and knowledge.
Minister Talaat emphasized the importance of using modern technology to spread culture, while Minister Hanno highlighted the role of digital platforms in expanding access to cultural content. The memorandum, valid for three years, includes reviewing metadata and ensuring that digitized books are suitable for inclusion on the platform.
The ministers also discussed further digitization efforts, including creating virtual museums, leveraging AI for translation, and developing online platforms for marketing and promoting Egyptian cultural content. They explored the possibility of hosting cultural and creative events at Egypt’s digital innovation centers and creating a “Digital Cultural Palace” tailored to younger generations and creators.
