At the Summit of the Future Action Days held at the United Nations in New York, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, affirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing its infrastructure and accelerating the country’s digitalization efforts.
During his address, Minister Talaat outlined Egypt’s strategy to digitize government services comprehensively, ensuring accessibility through various channels to include every citizen. He emphasized the significant reach of the “Decent Life” initiative’s fiber-optic cable project, which aims to improve internet access for over 58 million people, nearly half of Egypt’s population, particularly in rural areas.
Minister Talaat also participated in discussions about the global digital divide, particularly the challenges and opportunities digitalization presents to developing nations. He acknowledged the skepticism around recent technological advancements but countered it with an optimistic view on the potential for digital transformation to enhance economic prospects and societal welfare in Egypt.
He highlighted Egypt’s robust digital training programs which have expanded exponentially, noting that the number of trainees has surged by 125 times in the last six years. This year, the initiative is set to benefit 500,000 individuals by equipping them with essential digital skills, thus enhancing their employment prospects in global markets and fostering entrepreneurship.
The minister’s remarks were part of the session titled “Hope for Digitalization – A Digital Future for All,” which also saw participation from global leaders like Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, alongside other dignitaries from various African countries.
The session, part of the broader SDG Digital event themed “A Digital Future for All,” focused on the crucial role of digital technology in achieving sustainable development goals. The participation of Minister Talaat highlighted Egypt’s proactive role in leveraging technology for inclusive growth and sustainability.
On the sidelines, Minister Talaat met with Sangboo Kim, Vice President for Digital Transformation at the World Bank, to discuss further cooperation on digital initiatives and infrastructure projects, including enhancing high-speed internet access in Egyptian villages under the “Decent Life” initiative.
