Egypt’s ICT Minister visits Creativa Mansoura, signs two MoUs to advance digital development in Dakahlia

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, alongside the Governor of Dakahlia, Tarek Marzouk, visited the Creativa Innovation Hub at Mansoura University, a center established to foster technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital skills among local youth.

During the visit, the ICT Minister toured the Hub’s state-of-the-art laboratories and participated in a roundtable with freelancers, organized by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA). Discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities in the freelancing sector, with emphasis on access to financial services, social and health insurance, digital pricing mechanisms, and facilitating foreign currency transfers. Talaat highlighted the critical role of freelancers in strengthening Egypt’s ICT sector, attracting multinational investments, and promoting global competitiveness.

Mr. Talaat and Mr. Marzouk also witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding between MCIT and the Dakahlia Governorate. The first MoU establishes institutional cooperation to implement digital workplaces, deploy information systems, and enhance service quality across government directorates, while the second MoU focuses on digital community development and youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PwDs) empowerment through ICT training. Key initiatives under the MoUs include training 50 women in digital marketing, preparing 1,000 youth for freelancing in AI, programming, and computer applications, accrediting e-learning centers, and raising awareness on digital citizenship and online safety.

The visit featured presentations from ITIDA-supported startups, including “Lothgha,” an AI-powered digital therapeutic application for speech disorders, and “Galsah.com,” a digital habilitation platform for children with developmental challenges. Graduates from ITI and NTI training programs showcased their skills in advanced technologies such as 5G/6G, Cloud DevOps, AI solutions, and cybersecurity, highlighting their readiness for employment in multinationals and the global freelancing market.

The Minister praised the Hub’s graduates as examples of the impact of Creativa Innovation Hubs nationwide and reaffirmed MCIT’s commitment to developing Egypt’s digital talent pool. Marzouk underscored Dakahlia’s strong human capital and its role in implementing digital projects to enhance citizen services.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from MCIT, ITIDA, ITI, NTI, and Mansoura University.