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Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, witnessed the signing of a renewed cooperation protocol between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and Arish University, aimed at building digital capacity and empowering youth across North Sinai.

The agreement was signed by Ahmed Elzaher, CEO of ITIDA, and Prof. Hassan El Demerdash, President of Arish University, in the presence of senior representatives from both institutions. The renewed partnership underscores a shared commitment to enhancing ICT skills, promoting entrepreneurship, and opening up remote employment opportunities in Egypt’s underserved regions.

Expanding Opportunities Through Digital Empowerment

In his remarks, Minister Talaat highlighted that the agreement reflects the Ministry’s vision to create sustainable employment avenues through digital transformation. “This cooperation enables young people in North Sinai to acquire the technical and soft skills necessary for freelancing and remote work, without needing to relocate,” he stated. He also emphasized the initiative's role in fostering entrepreneurial potential and supporting tech startups in the region.

The renewed three-year protocol builds upon the success of the 2022 agreement, which trained over 2,200 youth—exceeding expectations. The new phase targets 7,200 trainees, including university students and young people across North Sinai, through specialized and scalable training programs aligned with market needs.

Comprehensive Training Tracks for Students and Youth

The initiative features tailored programs for students of the Faculty of Computers and Information at Arish University, including:

Summer internships in partnership with the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI)

Graduation project support

English language enhancement

Freelancing skills development

For youth outside the university, the program offers training in:

Digital literacy

Cybersecurity fundamentals

Soft skills and language training

Freelancing and entrepreneurship

The initiative also includes training and certifying local ICT trainers in collaboration with ITIDA and NTI, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program and creating a local talent pipeline.

Driving Development and Inclusion in Sinai

Prof. El Demerdash emphasized Arish University’s societal mission, noting that the renewed agreement not only expands the number of beneficiaries but also diversifies the training content and broadens age inclusion, ensuring alignment with the evolving demands of Egypt’s labor market.

He also praised the Creativa Innovation Hub, launched by the Ministry at the university, as a vital center for community-driven innovation and digital inclusion in the region.

Meanwhile, ITIDA’s CEO, Ahmed Elzaher, expressed pride in the partnership’s achievements to date. He stressed the program’s role in developing a digitally skilled workforce capable of contributing to Egypt’s wider development goals, particularly in strategic regions like Sinai.

A National Vision for Inclusive Growth

This initiative is part of Egypt’s broader national strategy to promote inclusive digital transformation, unlock remote work opportunities, and bridge regional disparities in access to ICT education and jobs. The partnership between ITIDA and Arish University stands as a model for how cross-sector collaboration can catalyze economic empowerment and social resilience in historically underserved areas.