Egypt Ranks First in Africa for AI Government Readiness, Says Minister

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hindi, emphasized the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in bolstering national security during a session of the National Defense and Security Committee in the Senate. He stated that AI has evolved beyond a mere technological advancement into a comprehensive system impacting various state sectors and is pivotal for achieving digital sovereignty. The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to adopting AI technologies, enhancing the capabilities of youth and national companies in this field, and establishing legal and ethical frameworks to ensure responsible use of these technologies.

Hindi’s remarks came during a session attended by Senate Deputy Ahmed Al-Awady, National Defense and Security Committee Chairman Mohamed Abdel-Lah, committee members Beheddin Nasr Mahmoud, Fahmy Abdel-Raouf, secretary Issam Mohamed, and several leaders from the ministry and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

The minister pointed out that AI technologies are driving rapid transformations that present challenges requiring countries to prepare effectively. He noted that the ability to engage with advanced technological mechanisms and leverage AI for state interests has become a significant factor in global power dynamics.

Hindi also reviewed Egypt’s achievements in AI development, including the establishment of the National Council for Artificial Intelligence in 2019, which launched its first national AI strategy in 2021. He mentioned the issuance of the Egyptian Charter for Responsible AI in 2023 and the rollout of the second edition of the national AI strategy set for 2025, focusing on six main pillars: governance, technology, data, infrastructure, ecosystem, and skill development.

Additionally, he highlighted the creation of an Applied Innovation Center tasked with developing innovative solutions using AI to address societal challenges. This center has produced various applications across different fields and developed a local context-aware large language model named “Karnak,” enabling startups to build applications based on this model. Furthermore, he announced the establishment of the Egyptian Center for Responsible AI within the Ministry of Communications at the end of 2025 to promote safe AI usage within governmental entities and foster organizational models that encourage innovation.

Hindi stressed the importance of utilizing AI tools in cybersecurity, asserting that cybersecurity is an integral part of national security. He outlined efforts to enhance capabilities at the National Emergency Response Center for Computers and Networks (EG-CERT), leveraging AI technologies to address cyber threats.

The government is also adapting to future technologies by renaming the National Council for Artificial Intelligence to include quantum computing and emerging technologies. Currently, it is preparing a national strategy for quantum computing while working on attracting investments in data centers to bolster digital sovereignty.

The ministry is committed to launching initiatives aimed at building digital capacities focusing on AI and cybersecurity across all age groups nationwide. During the session, Hindi responded to committee members’ inquiries regarding enhancing cybersecurity readiness through ongoing implementation of projects under the second edition of the national cybersecurity strategy aimed at protecting digital infrastructure.

He noted Egypt’s progress in improving its ranking by 60 positions on the Global Government AI Readiness Index over six years. The country now stands first in Africa, third among Arab nations, and ranks 51st globally on this index. Furthermore, Egypt is among 12 countries recognized as leaders in a global cybersecurity index released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), achieving full marks on this metric.