Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with key government officials to discuss the launch of the “Digilians” initiative, a program designed to boost the nation’s digital capabilities by training young people in the fields of communications, information technology, and software. The meeting included Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat, and Director of the Military Academy Lieutenant-General Ashraf Zahir.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the government’s strategic plan aims to leverage this initiative as a pivotal element in the digital transformation and enhancement of digital exports. The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, outlined the details of the initiative, highlighting its focus on creating job opportunities in high-demand sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, programming, cyber security, digital design, and digital arts.

The initiative will be inclusive, allowing individuals o
f all age groups, academic backgrounds, and from all Egyptian governorates to register. Applications will be processed digitally via a new platform set to launch after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, aiming to prepare a large number of young people for roles in the burgeoning information labor market.

The initiative involves full residency for participants in facilities at the War College buildings in Heliopolis, which will be repurposed following the college’s move to the New Administrative Capital. Comprehensive training will be provided, covering technical skills, personal development, and English language proficiency, with practical training sessions in collaboration with major companies operating in Egypt.

Dr. Talaat further elaborated that participants will have opportunities to pursue master’s degrees from prestigious international universities and will have access to four training tracks, ranging from four months to two years. The program targets an annual intake of 5,000 students, with an estimated budget
of three billion Egyptian pounds for infrastructure and one billion Egyptian pounds annually for training.

President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of maintaining accuracy, transparency, and impartiality in selecting beneficiaries to ensure public confidence in the initiative, which is expected to equip participants with the skills needed for the evolving labor market.