Amr Ahmed Samih Talaat[a] (born March 9, 1961)[1] is an Egyptian engineer, academic, and government official[2] serving as the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt since June 14, 2018.
These efforts included building human capital, strengthening customer loyalty, promoting corporate social responsibility, and enhancing employees’ Key performance indicators (KPIs).
His initiatives focus on developing and securing the country's IT and telecom infrastructure, improving government services, and fostering a generation of professionals skilled in advanced digital technologies.
The New Administrative Capital features modern data centers and secure networks, and ongoing projects include automating health services and implementing e-signature solutions.
[22] The law, approved by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is expected to attract international investment to Egypt's data center industry and support economic growth.
It manages approximately 25 million savings accounts, launched the Yalla App in 2022 for online payments and transfers, and supports SMEs with shipping services.
This initiative supports Egypt's digital transformation goals, offering cloud services to various sectors, including finance and healthcare, while also advancing data security and infrastructure.
Talaat emphasized the importance of this agreement in promoting investment in data centers and cloud computing, and in preparing a skilled workforce for digital transformation in the country.
[34] This agreement aims to enhance digital inclusion for PwDs and to establish a joint center of excellence in universal design and Assistive Technology at NAID.
[35] The Applied Innovation Center (AIC) was established under the leadership of Talaat to advance the use of emerging Information and Communications Technologies in addressing national challenges.
[36][37][38] AIC aims to enhance skills in areas like Artificial Intelligence, big data, High Performance Computing, automation, IoT, and cybersecurity, supporting the growth of Egypt's ICT sector.
Talaat emphasized that these partnerships are crucial for capacity building within the Ministry's strategy and the broader Digital Egypt vision, aiming to bridge the professional skills gap in the ICT sector through technical and practical training.
[44] The initiative is structured to offer specialized training in various ICT fields, alongside courses in leadership, management, English language, innovation and entrepreneurship, and freelancing skills.
[43] In May 2022, Talaat oversees the Digital Egypt Cubs Initiative (DECI),[45] a program aimed at developing the technological skills of 3,000 students annually from grades seven to eleven.
Launched with a $25 million budget, the initiative partners with leading tech companies like Cisco, IBM, and Microsoft to provide training in fields such as digital arts, software development, and artificial intelligence.
DECI is part of Talaat's broader efforts to align Egypt's education system with future labor market demands, ensuring that young Egyptians are equipped with the necessary skills in emerging technologies.
Managed by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the initiative aims to train 100,000 young Egyptians in digital skills through a partnership with Udacity.
The 18-month scholarship program provides participants with access to online learning, hands-on projects, professional mentorship, and peer support, with the goal of enhancing their readiness for remote work and local job markets.
[50] This project was part of a broader effort to repurpose historical and cultural sites into Innovation Hubs, preserving their architectural integrity while advancing technological progress.