Egypt’s ICT Minister Attends Launch of AI Hub for Sustainable Development in Rome
Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, took part in the official launch of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, an initiative spearheaded by the Italian G7 Presidency for 2024. The launch event was held at the headquarters of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Rome and witnessed high-level participation, including Italy’s Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, as well as ministers and senior officials from African nations, representatives of international organizations, and leaders from global and African tech companies.
Dr. Talaat's participation came following an official invitation extended by the Italian government, underscoring Egypt’s growing engagement in global efforts to leverage artificial intelligence for inclusive and sustainable development.
The AI Hub, established through a strategic partnership between Italy and UNDP, with support from the European Union (EU), aims to advance digital transformation and AI-powered industrial development across Africa. The initiative aligns with the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy, and brings together 14 African partner countries, including Egypt, to pioneer cross-border collaboration in this fast-evolving domain.
Among the Hub’s key objectives are:
Expanding access to high-performance computing resources for African AI innovators.
Establishing sustainable AI infrastructure in priority countries.
Facilitating partnerships between African startups and Italian G7 companies.
Accelerating the application of AI in tackling major development challenges.
Catalyzing investment into Africa’s emerging AI ecosystems.
Ahmed Tantawy, Head of Egypt’s Applied Innovation Center (AIC), also attended the launch and has been named to the Hub’s Executive Steering Group, representing Egypt in shaping the strategic vision and implementation roadmap. He also contributed to a dedicated conference aimed at knowledge exchange and laying the foundation for the Hub’s upcoming initiatives.
The event highlights Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its regional and international presence in the field of AI, while supporting Africa’s digital future through cooperation, innovation, and infrastructure development.