ICT Minister meets with global ministers to discuss AI governance, emphasizes Egypt's AI-related commitments

Egypt Today

10-02-2025

Cairo – February 10, 2025: Amr Talaat, Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, reaffirmed the country's commitment to advancing global artificial intelligence (AI) governance during his participation in the Ministerial Coordination Meeting of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
Additionally, Talaat outlined Egypt's efforts to address the impact of AI on the job market, emphasizing the country's focus on providing digital skills training to workers. These initiatives aim to equip individuals with the skills necessary to meet the evolving demands of the economy.
Moreover, he underscored Egypt's commitment to enhancing cybersecurity for AI systems, focusing on privacy protection and preventing data breaches.
The meeting was held at the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris, as part of the ongoing Artificial Intelligence Summit.
The meeting focused on the comprehensive approach adopted by the GPAI in AI governance, aiming to explore future cooperation opportunities with countries across different regions and strengthen international coordination in the AI field.
Participants included senior officials such as Jelena Begovic, Serbia's Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation; Aysen Atchieveri, Chile's Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation; Zhaslan Madiev, Kazakhstan's Minister of Digitalization, Innovation, and Aerospace; and Audrey Blonk, Deputy Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at the OECD.
During the meeting, Talaat outlined Egypt's latest advancements in AI governance, including Egypt's launch of the second version of its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in January 2025.
This updated strategy focuses on six main pillars. The first of these is governance, ensuring the ethical and responsible use of AI while addressing issues such as transparency, algorithmic bias, and privacy protection. The second pillar involves data governance, which aims to develop robust frameworks to ensure the safe and ethical use of data in AI technologies.
Another critical pillar is infrastructure, which aims to expand cloud computing services, implement digital transformation projects, and provide high-performance computing applications.
Talaat also emphasized the importance of fostering an innovative ecosystem by supporting startups and nurturing innovation. The technology pillar, which focuses on the development of new AI models and algorithms, including deep learning applications, is crucial for improving the quality of life and enhancing the efficiency of various sectors.
Lastly, the strategy prioritizes the development of AI skills through capacity-building programs. These initiatives are designed to equip workers with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
Talaat also underscored Egypt's active role in international AI forums, noting that Egypt is the first African nation to adopt the OECD's AI principles.
The country is also contributing to the OECD's AI Working Group, underscoring its commitment to international collaboration.
Talaat emphasized Egypt's interest in fostering regional cooperation in AI, particularly within the Arab and African regions, through the Arab League and the African Union. He also discussed Egypt's efforts to address the challenges posed by AI technologies, such as algorithmic bias, transparency, and accountability, in alignment with international initiatives.
The minister called for increased global investments in innovation to address the challenges related to the high costs of AI infrastructure. He also advocated for more research in the field of AI within both Africa and the Arab region.
During his visit, Talaat is scheduled to meet with officials from French companies to discuss investment opportunities in Egypt's communications and information technology sector, as well as with representatives from international institutions to explore potential areas of cooperation.