During his visit to Qalyubia Governorate to inaugurate and inspect ICT projects, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat met with Governor of Qalyubia Ayman Attia at the Governorate Headquarters. The meeting was attended by Chair of the House of Representatives ICT Committee MP Ahmed Badawi.
They discussed updates in ICT projects aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure, fostering digital transformation for more efficient government services, and developing the digital skills of local youth. Additionally, they explored ways to strengthen collaboration in utilizing information technology to benefit the people of Qalyubia and support the governorate’s development efforts.
In an extended meeting attended by the governorate’s executive leaders, Talaat emphasized his commitment to visiting Qalyubia, commending the potential of this promising governorate, which is rich in its people, history, resource diversity, and particularly its human capital. He highlighted several key ICT projects in the Governorate, focusing on the Ministry’s infrastructure development efforts, which are structured around three main areas.
The first pillar involves the expansion of fixed Internet infrastructure, particularly the installment of fiber optic cables in the villages covered by Decent Life Initiative. To date, 50,000 homes in Qalyubia have been connected, with plans to reach 250,000 homes this year. Talaat emphasized the developmental impact of this project, as it enables residents to access the Internet for training, work, digital marketing, and other services.
The second pillar focuses on expanding wireless communication services through the establishment of mobile towers. Currently, there are approximately 1,800 mobile towers in Qalyubia, with a plan to add 150 more this year to ensure that all areas of the governorate have access to reliable mobile service.
Talaat added that the third pillar focuses on post offices, with a development plan currently in progress. There are more than 215 post offices in Qalyubia, 170 of which have already been modernized, with the remaining offices set to be completed over the course of this year and the next. He also mentioned that all the post offices in Decent Life villages, totaling around 23 offices, have been developed. Furthermore, the number of ATMs has been increased to over 100 machines to better serve citizens, particularly pensioners.
The ICT Minister explained the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to enhance digital skills among residents of Qalyubia across various age groups and fields of specialization, aiming to equip them with the skills necessary to access decent job opportunities in the ICT sector. He highlighted a wide range of training programs available through Creativa Innovation Hubs, in addition to the Mahara Tech platform, which offers hundreds of hours of specialized lectures in different ICT fields. Talaat also emphasized the ongoing efforts to position Qalyubia as a key player on Egypt’s offshoring map by providing more training initiatives designed to prepare young people for careers in this industry.
For his part, Attia welcomed the ICT Minister in Qalyubia. He stated that the visit was a clear indication of their shared commitment to advancing development and improving the quality of services provided to the people of Qalyubia. Attia emphasized that the day marked the beginning of positive changes, with the results of their collaborative efforts evident in the inauguration and inspection of several vital service projects in communications and postal services, which are essential components of the broader development framework and offer practical services for daily use.
Qalyubia Governor expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the ICT Minister for his relentless efforts in building a modern digital Egypt. He acknowledged the Minister’s visionary leadership and unwavering determination, which have been crucial in driving the implementation of numerous strategic projects that support digital transformation, attract quality investments, build the digital capacities of youth, and foster technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Attia praised Talaat’s significant contributions to supporting electronics local manufacturing, a vital pillar of the national economy.
During the visit, Talaat and Attia witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MCIT and the Governorate on building the digital capacities of citizens in the villages and centers of Qalyubia Governorate. The MoU builds on the ongoing community development initiatives implemented by MCIT in Qalyubia. It aims to ensure the sustainability and integration of these services, making them more accessible to citizens. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader strategy for digital transformation, human development, and the enhancement of youth technological skills through sustainable community development activities.
Under the agreement, beneficiaries of the joint activities will receive a range of direct and indirect training programs tailored to the diverse needs of the community groups involved. The MoU, which spans two years, covers five main areas that MCIT, in partnership with Qalyubia Governorate and various institutions, is working to implement. The goal is to build the capacities and skills of Egyptian youth across various fields, with a focus on achieving digital community development.
The first area focuses on the economic and social empowerment of women through the Qodwa-Tech initiative to enhance the digital skills of women in the Governorate. The aim is to educate and empower 350 women artisans and entrepreneurs in the use of technological tools and applications in areas such as digital marketing, e-commerce, and AI tools, and provide consultations in production, design, and marketing.
The second pillar of the MoU focuses on developing the digital skills of youth to prepare them for the job market. This includes training 2,000 young graduates in programming languages, technology fundamentals, and AI applications, equipping them for freelance work, and preparing them for meaningful opportunities in the competitive job market. Additionally, 10 trainers will be certified in IT and business administration skills to ensure the sustainability of the project and its continued impact on the community.
As part of efforts to promote e-learning and support its growth, the activities include authorizing five new e-learning centers as Digital Sustainability Centers, in collaboration with various organizations, aiming to train 500 individuals through these centers. Furthermore, 20 trainers will be certified for the Cisco Academy program. Additionally, 100 faculty members, final-year university students, and teachers will be trained to manage and maintain interactive e-learning content, creating new job opportunities in this field and encouraging institutions to embrace a culture of e-learning.
The fourth pillar of the MoU focuses on raising awareness of the telemedicine services offered to citizens in the Governorate through the Telemedicine presidential initiative. This initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the Health Directorate in Qalyubia. It includes providing technical support and training to staff involved in the telemedicine system, such as technicians, doctors, and nurses, on how to effectively use the system in hospitals and health units.
The final component of the agreement focuses on raising awareness among citizens in several key areas, including digital citizenship and online safety. This will involve training 700 children, youth, teachers, and parents in digital protection skills to promote safe internet usage. Additionally, services from the National Network for PWD Services (Taheel) will be provided to approximately 250 citizens with disabilities, as well as companies and business owners. These individuals will be connected through a digital platform to help them secure decent job opportunities, in cooperation with the Social Solidarity Directorate, rehabilitation offices under the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and the labor offices of the Ministry of Labor.
Efforts are also underway to raise environmental awareness among citizens and develop green skills among youth at various educational levels. This includes promoting best environmental practices, adopting modern technologies to reduce environmental degradation, and encouraging sustainable consumption and resource management behaviors.
The MoU was signed by Advisor to the ICT Minister for Digital Community Development Hoda Dahroug, and Deputy Governor of Qalyubia Eman Rayan.
Dahroug gave a presentation outlining the MoU’s main areas of focus and its significance in leveraging ICT through various initiatives and projects in the governorate. She highlighted how these efforts contribute to improving quality of life, supporting economic growth, and creating new job opportunities.
The ICT Minister and the Governor of Qalyubia also listened to several success stories from participants in the Ministry’s initiatives in the governorate. One woman shared how Qodwa-Tech training programs helped her develop her digital skills, which in turn improved her job prospects and supported the growth of her business.
A young knowledge ambassador from the Digital Citizenship Initiative also shared their experience with the online safety training program, which was carried out in collaboration with Misr Public Library in Qalyubia. Another success story was shared by a young participant in the Tawar w Ghayar (Develop and Change) initiative, who explained how the program helped him plan his career path and develop his digital skills to better meet the demands of the job market.
The meeting was attended by CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher, Chairperson of Egypt Post Dalia Elbaz, Chairwoman of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) Heba Saleh, and Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Ahmed Khattab.
It is worth noting that the ICT Minister’s visit to Qalyubia includes the inauguration and inspection of several projects. The program features a visit to a leading U.S.-based company specializing in the management and analysis of electronic component data, the opening of two post offices, a tour of a telemedicine unit, and an inspection of operations at a customer service center within one of the telephone exchange offices. Talaat will also meet with entrepreneurs, as well as young trainees and graduates of training programs offered by MCIT and its affiliates, during his visit to Creativa Innovation Hub .
