Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El Khatib held talks with Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub and Vodafone Egypt CEO Mohamed Abdallah to explore investment opportunities in the country's technology and telecommunications sectors, as per a Cabinet statement. The meeting focused on potential cooperation in developing smart infrastructure, especially in new urban communities, with El Khatib highlighting the government's efforts to create a flexible investment environment and provide incentives in fields such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The minister stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing Egypt's digital transformation, citing the country's skilled workforce as a key asset. He welcomed collaboration with international firms like Vodafone and Vodacom to transfer expertise, build local capabilities, and accelerate technological innovation. El Khatib also expressed interest in establishing joint research centres with major telecom firms to foster innovation and incubate next-generation technologies. He underscored Egypt's ambition to become a regional hub for digital connectivity and data services, noting the strategic geographic location and growing investment in digital infrastructure, particularly in data centres and cloud computing. He added that 5G technology will transform sectors such as education, healthcare, and industry and reaffirmed the government's support for projects built on modern telecom solutions. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
