Cairo: Egypt is keen on expanding international partnerships with companies and institutions specializing in data centers and digital infrastructure, as stated by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi. The aim is to leverage global expertise and technologies to fortify its position as a regional hub for the data center industry.
According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting with a delegation from Heka Data, a data center developer, and a US alliance of data center industry developers led by Heka Data Chairman Ahmed el-Hefny, the Minister emphasized the state's openness to targeted investments. These investments are expected to facilitate the transfer and localization of the latest technologies and support the development of an integrated ecosystem for data centers and artificial intelligence in Egypt, as well as in regional and international markets.
Hindi further noted that expanding the industry is crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and attracting more technology investments. The discussions included the company's plans to establish an integrated zone for hyperscale data centers and artificial intelligence in Egypt, capitalizing on the country's competitive advantages to become a regional and international hub for data centers, cloud computing, and digital services.
The meeting explored cooperation opportunities for establishing the project, leveraging Egypt's strategic geographic location, advanced digital infrastructure, fiber-optic networks, and submarine cables that connect the country globally. Additionally, the growing pool of specialized information and communications technology professionals in Egypt was highlighted.
Minister Hindi pointed out that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies is driving the demand for digital infrastructure, particularly advanced data centers. He reiterated Egypt's commitment to developing an integrated ecosystem that accommodates such growth, providing an environment conducive to expanding advanced digital services and strengthening its capacity to serve companies and institutions in Egypt and the region.
The Heka Data delegation and the US alliance shared their vision for implementing the project and emphasized the Egyptian market's potential as a promising regional market. They expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with the Egyptian government to proceed with the necessary studies and procedures for establishing the project.
The discussions also covered the project's initial concept, scale, and implementation phases, as well as the investment and technology opportunities it could create, including new job generation. The project's role in supporting the growth of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services in Egypt and the region was also examined. Mechanisms for creating a supportive environment and facilitating the necessary procedures in coordination with relevant authorities were discussed.
Furthermore, the meeting reviewed state efforts to develop digital infrastructure and create an environment conducive to expanding the data center industry, a key component of the digital economy and a major pillar for expanding cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services. Participants also addressed the importance of integrating digital infrastructure with energy sources needed to operate data centers, ensuring continuity and efficiency amid the growing global demand for data center services driven by the widespread adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications.
The meeting was attended by key figures, including CEO of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Mohamed Shamroukh, Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) CEO Ahmed el-Zaher, and Saad Rushdy, Head of the Central Administration for Resources and Technical Assistance and Supervisor of the Central Administration for Technology Projects and Outsourcing at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, alongside senior officials from the Ministry, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and Telecom Egypt.