Egypt's 2025/26 development plan earmarked EGP 13 billion in public investments for the communications and information technology (CIT) sector, including EGP 9 billion from the state budget, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat announced, cited by the Egyptian Cabinet. Al Mashat said the plan includes programmes to strengthen communications infrastructure, localise IT industries, enhance cybersecurity, and adopt artificial intelligence technologies, aiming to position Egypt as a regional hub for emerging digital services and to boost ICT-related exports. She described the CIT sector as one of the fastest-growing, with annual growth rates of no less than 15 per cent, and highlighted its strong linkages with other sectors supporting the country's digital transformation. Key initiatives under the plan include the development of a secure government network, expansion of digital public services, and the continued rollout of Egypt's universal health insurance and digital identity systems. Further efforts will focus on upgrading postal infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and scaling national skills programmes such as the Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI) and the Digital Egypt Cubs Initiative (DECI). The plan also includes completing the phases of Knowledge City, strengthening cybersecurity for vital sectors, and developing 200 integrated postal service centres nationwide. According to Al Mashat, the government aims to increase internet usage in public services to 31 per cent, expand innovation hubs across 60 per cent of governorates, grow the number of mobile towers to 40,000, and train over 600,000 individuals in CIT. Egypt's annual digital exports are projected to reach $8.5 billion, including $6 billion in outsourcing services. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
