Cairo: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has instructed ongoing monitoring of the Unified Government Services Card system to ensure the integration of databases, enhance operational efficiency, and bolster efforts aimed at evolving the government services framework.
According to State Information Service Egypt, this directive was issued during a meeting held on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The meeting included Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendi, and Director of the Armed Forces Signal Department Chief-of-Staff Hany Mahmoud Mansour. Presidential Spokesman Mohamed el Shennawy reported that the President reviewed recent progress on expanding the Unified Government Services Card system as part of the state's digital transformation initiatives to streamline citizens' access to services.
Hendi highlighted the ministry's ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade to advance the system, improve its technical and operational capabilities, and gradually increase the services offered. He also presented updates on efforts to boost exports in the communications and information technology sector and localize the electronics industry. Egypt aims to elevate its digital exports to $8 billion by 2028, with outsourcing services expected to achieve $12 billion in exports by 2029. Additionally, the country targets an increase in electronic design companies to 120 by 2030.
President Sisi emphasized the importance of attracting and fostering investment in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, as well as expanding the establishment of large-scale data centers to fortify the digital economy. Hendi also discussed the 'Digital Pioneers-Digilians' presidential initiative, a joint effort between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Egyptian Military Academy. The President underscored the necessity of applying stringent standards of accuracy, transparency, and impartiality in selecting beneficiaries, to ensure robust public trust in the initiative.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed cybersecurity as a crucial element of the digital transformation strategy, vital for building trust in digital services. It also covered updates on the 'Karnak' artificial intelligence program, aimed at achieving digital sovereignty and laying the groundwork for developing generative AI applications in Arabic. President Sisi called for the increased application of artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies, while continuing to strengthen Egypt's telecommunications infrastructure, advancing 5G network deployment, and reducing concentration risks to support the sector's efficiency and sustainability.