Dr. Rania Al-Mashat:

Artificial Intelligence intersects with various sectors and contributes significantly to bridging development gaps.

 The State places great importance on the technology sector to enhance its role in increasing productivity and exports.

 Qualifying the human element to deal with modern technology is a key part of the State's vision.

 Artificial Intelligence is not just a technology; it is a fundamental driver for development in the current century.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, participated in the second day of the Cairo ICT 2025 Conference and Exhibition, during a panel discussion with the theme “Investing in Human Capital in a World Driven by Technology and Artificial Intelligence.”

In her keynote speech for the session, Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the Cairo ICT 2025 Conference and Exhibition, given the rapid global developments led by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart manufacturing, and big data. This necessitates countries to reformulate their development priorities, foremost among them being investment in human capital.

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation pointed out that AI has become one of the most prominent drivers of change in the global economy, yet the human element remains the decisive factor in guiding this change towards achieving comprehensive development, increasing productivity, and enhancing competitiveness.

Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the relationship between AI and human development is complementary and interconnected; AI has contributed to expanding human capabilities and fostering their potential, while its success remains dependent on human skills, creativity, and the ability to develop and effectively apply these technologies.

In this context, the Minister reaffirmed that the Egyptian State has made investment in people a main pillar of its National Strategy for Digital Transformation and building a knowledge economy. She mentioned that the percentage of public investments directed towards human development sectors has increased from 17% in 2014/2015 to 28% in 2025/2026. This clearly reflects the State's commitment to prioritizing its citizens.

Dr. Al-Mashat also stressed the government's increasing interest in promoting AI applications across various sectors due to their direct impact on the quality of life for citizens and the efficiency of public services, asserting that AI is no longer a luxury but a pivotal tool for improving services, maximizing resource utilization, and supporting decision-making.

Minister Al-Mashat highlighted that Egypt has redefined its economic growth model to align with economic, technological, and geopolitical changes. The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation prepared “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development” as a comprehensive framework that achieves integration between the government's program of action and Egypt Vision 2030.

Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that the Narrative prioritizes sectors with higher productivity and greater access to export markets, primarily Information Technology, Manufacturing Industries, Tourism, Agriculture, and Energy.

Dr. Al-Mashat indicated that Egypt has adopted a National AI Strategy, which H.E. The President of the Republic, in his opening speech for its second edition, emphasized the necessity of completing the transformation towards a digital society that adopts the latest technologies.

The Minister referred to the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, explaining that it has identified 12 priority sectors to support innovation and open new markets, including: Health Tech, Digital Education, Renewable Energy, Smart Mobility, Tourism Tech, and other promising sectors.

Dr. Al-Mashat noted that through extensive consultations with over 250 entities, including entrepreneurs, investors, and experts, the Group prepared the "Egypt Startup Charter," which includes more than 80 supporting measures to be announced soon. These measures include: simplifying procedures, facilitating access to finance, supporting international expansion, and enabling startups to participate in government projects.

The Minister indicated that the global debate surrounding the impact of AI on the labor market requires a more comprehensive approach, stressing that the issue is not about technology replacing the human element, but about creating new career paths based on the skills required to operate, employ, and adapt AI technologies. She added that the coming phase will witness the emergence of specialized jobs that enhance the capabilities of human cadres and raise productivity levels, reflecting the integration between humans and technology.

Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that Egypt, with a population base exceeding 110 million, is rich in big data, which offers wide opportunities to maximize its utilization across various sectors. She explained that the development projects currently being implemented in the fields of health, education, training, and laboratory testing generate a huge volume of data that can be classified and analyzed, enabling the State to effectively utilize this information to improve the quality of public services and enhance performance efficiency through AI solutions.

The Minister mentioned that the recent Global Congress on Population, Health and Human Development (PHDC) included several specialized sessions that discussed the role of AI in the health sector and improving citizen services, affirming that these applications directly contribute to supporting the trajectory of growth and development and creating new knowledge- and technology-based employment opportunities.

Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that AI is no longer just an emerging technology but has become a fundamental engine for development in the 21st century, calling for enhanced partnership among the government, private sector, and society to invest in this technology to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for coming generations.

Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat concluded her speech by reiterating that people will remain the focus of development in a world where AI applications are accelerating, and that investing in human capital is the investment with the highest return and longest-lasting impact. She also noted that Egypt possesses the capabilities that qualify it to be a leading regional hub in technology and AI, with clear support from the political leadership.