Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, recently addressed the growing importance of cybersecurity in today's digital landscape during the third edition of the Information and Cybersecurity Conference and Exhibition (Caisec'24). Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Talaat emphasized the escalating threat of cyberattacks as countries increasingly rely on digital systems. According to international reports, institutions worldwide face ransomware attacks at an average rate of one every 11 seconds. The global cost of cybercrime was estimated at $8.4trn in 2022, and by 2026, the annual cost is expected to exceed $20trn. In response to these mounting threats, Egypt has launched a National Cybersecurity Strategy through the Supreme Council for Cybersecurity. The strategy focuses on several key pillars, including promoting scientific research in cybersecurity and enhancing international cooperation in the field. Talaat underscored the importance of building capacity in cybersecurity, highlighting the recent "Cyber Skills" initiative aimed at training 1,000 young people annually. Egypt currently ranks 23rd globally in the International Telecommunication Union's "Cybersecurity" index, and Talaat expressed his aspiration to improve this ranking further. Egypt's commitment to cybersecurity is evident through its Digital Egypt platform, which currently offers over 170 digital government services. The government aims to expand this to 200 services by the end of the year. Talaat emphasized that efforts to enhance digital services are accompanied by heightened awareness of cyber risks, demonstrating the country's proactive approach to safeguarding its digital infrastructure. Caisec'24, held under the patronage of the Prime Minister, was organized by Mercury Communications and the United Media Services Company in cooperation with the Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technologies (AICTO). The conference brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the field of cybersecurity.
