Egypt’s digital exports reached $7.4bn over the past seven years, representing a 124% increase from $3.3bn in 2018, according to Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat. Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, Talaat highlighted the ICT sector’s sustained momentum, noting it has been the fastest-growing sector in the economy, with annual growth rates ranging between 14% and 16%.
The Minister said the sector’s contribution to GDP has risen from 3.2% to 6% this year. Outsourcing exports alone doubled over the past three years, increasing from $2.4bn in 2022 to $4.8bn in 2025. During the same period, the number of outsourcing companies operating in Egypt grew from 90 to 240, supported by more than 270 service delivery centres nationwide.
Talaat outlined Egypt’s Digital Strategy, built on four pillars: digital innovation, improved digital services for citizens, GDP and export growth, and job creation. These pillars are supported by strong digital infrastructure and a robust legislative framework. Workforce development remains central to the strategy, with the number of ICT trainees rising from 4,000 in fiscal year 2018/2019 to 500,000 last year, and a target of 800,000 trainees in the current fiscal year.
He also pointed to progress in education and skills development, including the graduation of the first cohort from Egypt University of Informatics and the expansion of WE Schools of Applied Technology to 27 schools nationwide. Training delivery has diversified through in-person, online, and blended models, supported by platforms such as MaharaTech.
On artificial intelligence, Talaat noted that Egypt’s National AI Strategy, launched in 2019 and updated this year, has helped the country advance 46 places in the Government AI Readiness Index. AI applications are already being deployed in healthcare and judicial services.
The Minister also highlighted Egypt’s growing role as a global outsourcing hub, with recent agreements expected to generate 75,000 new jobs over three years. In manufacturing, 15 global and local brands are producing mobile phones in Egypt, with local value-added reaching 40% and production capacity rising to 10 million units in 2025.
Infrastructure investments of $6bn since 2019 have significantly upgraded internet networks, pushing average fixed broadband speeds to 91.3 Mbps and placing Egypt first globally. Talaat added that Egypt continues to play a critical role in global connectivity, carrying more than 90% of data traffic between Asia and Europe through its submarine cable network.
