Egypt Targets $8bn Outsourcing Exports as ICT Sector Records 24.3% Growth

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology,  Raafat Hindi, has opened the sixth edition of the Tech Invest Egypt conference, highlighting government efforts to strengthen the country’s technology and startup ecosystem and attract more investment into the digital economy.

Held in Cairo on September 7, 2026, under the theme “Empowering Competencies, Developing Investments,” the conference brought together government officials, technology companies, investors, entrepreneurs, startups and academic institutions. The event was organised by the General Division for Digital Economy and Technology at the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, in strategic partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA).

Hindi said the government views entrepreneurship as a key pillar for building an innovation-driven digital economy. He said the Ministry is working with the business community to address challenges facing startups, including access to financing, business growth, market expansion and attracting and retaining skilled talent.

The minister said the government is developing more effective mechanisms to enable promising startups to survive, grow and expand in Egypt before accessing regional and international markets. He outlined the ministry’s broader digital economy strategy, which focuses on accelerating digital transformation, localising technology, developing digital skills, strengthening infrastructure, improving sector governance, creating an investment- and innovation-friendly environment and maintaining digital sovereignty.

Hindi also highlighted the role of Egypt Digital Innovation Hubs, which are present in more than 20 governorates and provide support to entrepreneurs through skills development, entrepreneurship programmes, incubation, technical and legal consulting, marketing assistance and connections with investors. The ministry is also working to provide infrastructure that allows innovative companies to securely integrate with government systems, creating opportunities for GovTech companies to contribute to improving public services.

Artificial intelligence was another major focus of the minister’s address. Hindi described AI as a significant opportunity for Egyptian technology companies and said the ministry’s priority is to move beyond discussions about AI’s potential towards the safe and responsible deployment of AI applications across government and the private sector.

He pointed to the development of Egyptian AI applications and models in areas including language processing, speech-to-text, translation and healthcare. He also highlighted the recent experimental launch of the Egyptian large language model “Karnak”, alongside the “Loghat” and “Belmasry” applications.

The ministry is also working to make advanced computing resources available to researchers and developers, enabling them to build solutions with intellectual property that can be commercialised and taken to international markets.

Hindi further announced that the government is preparing to launch a competition designed to encourage entrepreneurs and startups to develop AI-powered technological solutions with developmental impact. Selected solutions would initially be implemented on a pilot basis within a government ministry, with the possibility of expanding successful models across other government entities. Details and participation requirements are expected to be announced soon.

The minister also highlighted strong recent growth in Egypt’s ICT sector. The sector recorded a 24.3% growth rate in the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, described as its highest growth rate on record. Outsourcing exports reached $5.1 billion by the end of 2025, while the government is targeting $8 billion by 2028 as part of efforts to expand outsourcing, localise electronics manufacturing and increase domestic value addition.

During the conference, Hindi toured an exhibition featuring startups and innovators working on AI and digital transformation solutions. He praised the quality of technologies developed by Egyptian entrepreneurs and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting their development and expansion.

The conference also featured four specialised discussion sessions covering investment in the IT sector, corporate AI strategies, startup growth and financing pathways, as well as Egypt’s Personal Data Protection Law and its executive regulations. Networking sessions were also held to connect entrepreneurs with incubators, accelerators and other organisations supporting innovation.