Cairo: Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Amr Talaat announced that Egypt ranks among the top three countries in start-up entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet. Talaat made these remarks during his speech at the 28th edition of the International Technology Fair and Forum for the Middle East and Africa (ICT 2024), which is being held under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The event is taking place from November 17-20 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly officially inaugurated the fair on Sunday. The event sees participation from various ministries, companies, and experts. The ICT forum offers a “dynamic platform” for innovations and provides an opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaborations, and drive technological advancements, as highlighted on the event’s website.

Talaat explained t
hat Egypt has supported entrepreneurs in founding over 600 tech-driven startups and has established 23 Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs in 19 governorates. He added that there are plans to establish a total of 32 hubs nationwide to further bolster the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Furthermore, Talaat noted a significant increase in digital capacity-building budgets, which have risen by 2400 percent between 2018 and 2024. The number of trainees has also surged from 4,000 to nearly 400,000 during the same period, with women making up half of the trainees.

Moreover, he highlighted that the ICT sector has experienced exceptional growth, exceeding 16 percent annually, making it the fastest-growing sector in Egypt for five consecutive years.