ICT Minister meets NTRA Telecom Industry Committee to review priorities for Egypt’s telecom sector

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, has met with members of the Telecom Industry Committee of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) following the committee’s new formation, which brings together senior ICT leaders and industry experts.

The meeting focused on key strategic pillars for advancing Egypt’s telecommunications industry, as well as anticipated challenges in the period ahead. Discussions also reviewed ongoing state efforts, through the NTRA and the Telecom Industry Committee, to support the ICT sector and strengthen its competitiveness in line with the Digital Egypt strategy and the broader objective of building a knowledge-based economy.

In his remarks, Talaat noted that Egypt’s ICT sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation, evolving into a productive, service-driven sector that plays a central role in economic growth and sustainable development. He stated that the sector has recorded the highest growth rates nationwide for the seventh consecutive year, ranging between 14 and 16 percent, and now contributes around 6 percent to the country’s gross domestic product.

The minister referenced outcomes from the Global Offshoring Summit 2025, which saw the signing of agreements with 55 international and local companies to expand their operations in Egypt, creating approximately 75,000 new job opportunities. He highlighted the government’s strong commitment to supporting the offshoring industry, underscored by a recent meeting between the President of the Republic and executives of participating companies.

Talaat further disclosed that digital exports have increased by 124 percent over the past seven years to reach USD 7.4 billion, while offshoring exports doubled over three years to USD 4.8 billion in 2025. He also pointed to Egypt’s progress in the World Bank’s 2025 GovTech Maturity Index, where the country advanced 47 positions to rank 22nd globally, reinforcing its placement among leading countries in Group A.

The minister also highlighted ongoing national efforts in cybersecurity, including Egypt’s signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and cooperation plans to establish the Egyptian-African Center for the Prevention and Combat of Cybercrime in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

On local manufacturing, Talaat said Egypt has attracted 15 major global mobile phone manufacturers, achieving a local component exceeding 40 percent. He noted that more than 10 million mobile devices were produced this year, compared to 3.3 million in the previous year, adding that the mobile device governance system is primarily intended to protect and support domestic manufacturing.

He also outlined the role of the NTRA and the Telecom Industry Committee in introducing new services, including 5G networks, Internet of Things services for vehicles, Wi-Fi Calling to enhance indoor call quality, and the eSIM service, which offers users greater flexibility in managing mobile lines.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Telecom Industry Committee issued a set of recommendations aimed at supporting the national telecom industry. These included calls to open new avenues for sector development, address challenges related to local manufacturing, explore opportunities in data centers and cloud computing, expand domestic production of telecom equipment, and establish effective mechanisms to support local manufacturers.

Closing the engagement, Talaat expressed confidence in the committee’s role in its new formation, describing it as a key platform for strengthening coordination among stakeholders and reflecting the state’s commitment to unified action and deeper collaboration to advance Egypt’s telecommunications industry.