Cairo:Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hindi, engaged in discussions with Uganda’s State Minister for Information Communication Technology, Joyce Ssebugwawo, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of information and communications technology (ICT). The primary areas of focus included digital transformation, digital capacity building, and innovation, with an emphasis on leveraging Egyptian expertise to support the development of Uganda’s national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the talks were held during a meeting between Hindi and the visiting Ugandan Minister and her delegation. The discussions reviewed Egypt’s advancements in digital transformation and the application of AI technologies across various sectors, while exploring opportunities for cooperation in developing digital skills and training Ugandan professionals.
The meeting also highlighted the private sector’s role in supporting digital transformation and the development of the ICT industry. The Ugandan delegation expressed an interest in learning about Egypt's strategies and mechanisms for fostering partnerships with the private sector in these areas.
Both sides emphasized the necessity of establishing a cooperative framework focusing on priority areas of mutual interest, particularly digital transformation and AI. This would be formalized through a memorandum of understanding, to be signed at a later date.
Minister Hindi noted Egypt's significant progress in its digital transformation journey, particularly in telecommunications infrastructure, government service digitization, and the expansion of modern technologies, including AI. He welcomed the opportunity to share Egypt's experiences with Uganda and to foster an exchange of expertise, acknowledging Uganda’s progress in digital transformation.
Minister Ssebugwawo expressed a keen interest in Egypt’s digital transformation efforts, especially in digital service delivery and infrastructure. She underscored the importance of reliable digital services and robust infrastructure to maximize societal benefits. She also emphasized learning from Egypt’s experience in digital capacity building.
The visit by the Ugandan delegation marked the beginning of sustained engagement aimed at strengthening cooperation in shared areas of priority, including AI, digital innovation, and cybersecurity. The program included specialized working sessions and visits to key Egyptian institutions such as Knowledge City in the New Administrative Capital and the Digital Egypt Creativity Centers, showcasing Egypt’s efforts to promote innovation and accelerate digital transformation.