Egypt and India Discuss Expanding Cooperation in AI, Digital Skills and Technology Investment
Egypt and India discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in information and communications technology (ICT), with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), digital capacity building, cybersecurity, innovation, entrepreneurship and investment.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Eng. Raafat Hendy, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Suresh K. Reddy, Ambassador of India to Egypt, in Cairo.
The meeting reviewed existing cooperation between the two countries in the ICT sector, including areas covered by memoranda of understanding related to information technology, cybersecurity, digital skills development, and the training and qualification of professionals in IT and electronics.
Hendy highlighted the continued expansion of Egypt-India cooperation in ICT, stressing the importance of building on existing partnerships, particularly in digital skills development and AI. He noted that Egypt’s strategic geographic location positions the country as a potential gateway for Indian companies seeking to expand into African and Middle Eastern markets.
He also pointed to Egypt’s large pool of young, qualified technology professionals as an important factor in attracting further Indian investments, particularly in outsourcing and digital services exports.
For his part, Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy expressed India’s interest in encouraging Indian companies to invest in Egypt. He noted that India is scheduled to host a global conference on the mobile phone industry next October, highlighting India’s position as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer and its growing capabilities in advanced industries and electronics.
The ambassador also highlighted India’s efforts to strengthen its public and digital infrastructure, including the expansion of fiber-optic networks.
The two sides discussed ongoing steps to strengthen their partnership in line with current technological priorities. The talks included expanding cooperation between Egyptian and Indian institutions in training and digital capacity building, exchanging expertise and knowledge, and strengthening private-sector collaboration to support entrepreneurship, innovation and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The meeting also addressed opportunities to broaden cooperation in AI to include innovation, research and development, advanced skills development, knowledge exchange and the responsible use of technology.
In addition, the two sides discussed encouraging Egyptian companies and institutions to participate in specialized international events and exhibitions hosted by India, with the aim of identifying new opportunities for cooperation and business partnerships.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Prakash Chaudhary, Second Secretary for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Embassy of India; Eng. Mohamed Shamroukh, CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA); Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA); Eng. Mahmoud Badawy, Assistant Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Digital Transformation; Dr. Hoda Baraka, Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Technology Skills Development; Ambassador Khaled Taha, Advisor to the Minister for International Relations; and Samah Aziz, Head of the Central Administration for International Relations, along with several ministry officials.