Egypt’s ICT Sector Sees Xi Jinping Visit as Opening for Deeper China Partnerships
The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Egypt could open a new phase of technology cooperation between the two countries, with Egyptian business leaders calling for closer private-sector partnerships focused on technology localization, digital infrastructure and export-oriented projects.
Ehab Saeed, Head of the Communications, Information Technology and Electronic Payments Division at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, said the visit represents an opportunity to deepen economic and investment ties at a time when technology is becoming increasingly central to national competitiveness and economic development.
Saeed argued that Egypt-China relations now have the potential to move beyond conventional trade toward more advanced partnerships involving joint ventures, technology transfer and long-term investment in digital industries.
He said the next stage should place greater emphasis on direct cooperation between Egyptian and Chinese private-sector companies, particularly in telecommunications, information technology and digital transformation.
From trade to technology localization
According to Saeed, future partnerships should be structured around transferring knowledge and technical expertise into Egypt rather than limiting cooperation to the import of finished products and services.
He called for more projects that help local companies build the capabilities required to produce and deliver technology services that can compete regionally and internationally.
That could include cooperation in artificial intelligence, data centers, cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things and smart-city technologies, alongside the manufacturing and assembly of electronic devices and components.
Saeed said these areas offer significant potential for joint investment, particularly as Egypt continues to develop its digital infrastructure and expand the role of technology across the wider economy.
He also stressed that attracting additional Chinese investment should be tied to clear economic value for Egypt, including technology transfer, training for Egyptian professionals and support for local startups and technology companies.
Egypt as a regional launchpad
Saeed also positioned Egypt as a potential base for Chinese technology companies seeking broader access to Arab and African markets.
He pointed to the country’s geographic position, trade agreements and expanding telecommunications, transport and logistics infrastructure as factors that could support regional expansion from Egypt.
For Chinese companies, that could make local investment more attractive if operations in Egypt are designed not only to serve the domestic market but also to support exports and regional service delivery.
Saeed said this model could help turn technology cooperation into a broader industrial and commercial relationship, particularly in projects with production and export potential.
Jobs, skills and a bigger digital economy
The benefits, he added, would extend beyond capital inflows.
Deeper technology cooperation could support job creation, digital-skills development and stronger export capabilities for Egyptian companies, while helping local businesses participate in more sophisticated technology value chains.
Saeed said Egypt already has several of the foundations required to strengthen its position as a regional technology hub, including a large pool of skilled professionals, a strategic location and improvements in digital infrastructure over recent years.
He therefore called for stronger links between the Egyptian and Chinese private sectors, with a particular focus on projects capable of producing technology locally and reaching external markets.
The objective, he said, should be to support Egypt’s wider shift toward an integrated digital economy while increasing the contribution of the communications and information technology sector to economic growth.
Saeed concluded that Xi Jinping’s visit could provide the political and economic momentum needed to launch new tracks of cooperation, with technology likely to become one of the most important areas for future Egyptian-Chinese partnerships.
The opportunity, in his view, lies not simply in attracting more Chinese companies to Egypt, but in building partnerships that leave behind local capabilities, exportable services and a stronger technology ecosystem.