Egypt communications minister discusses investments with German delegation
The German delegation’s two-day visit to Egypt follows the visit of Bavaria’s prime minister, who was accompanied by a private-sector delegation to the country in October.
The visit aimed to deepen cooperation between Egyptian and Bavarian companies, especially in the Egyptian government's priority sectors, such as information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
The talks between Talaat and the delegation focused on enhancing cooperation in ICT, particularly in attracting more German investments to the sector, promoting collaboration in outsourcing, and developing youth digital skills.
This aligns with Egypt’s goal to become a global hub for outsourcing and technology innovation.
According to a report by the Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC), Egypt's outsourcing sector exports rose to $3.7 billion in 2023, up from $2.4 billion in 2022. The country aims to increase exports to $9 billion by 2026.
The growth in outsourcing is attributed to Egypt’s unique value proposition, which includes a highly skilled, multilingual, and cost-effective workforce capable of serving global markets across a wide range of technological disciplines.
In November, Talaat stated that nearly 200 international companies are operating in Egypt’s outsourcing industry, underscoring the sector’s significant global role.
During the meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, the minister emphasized that several German companies are already active in Egypt’s ICT ecosystem.
These companies run notable outsourcing centres, utilizing qualified Egyptian talents to export digital services in various technological fields.
Moreover, Talaat highlighted the diversity of German investments in Egypt’s outsourcing sector, including call centres, digital services centres, design services, and value-added services.
He further stressed that Egypt has a vast pool of highly skilled, multilingual young professionals, affirming the government’s commitment to providing advanced training programmes to prepare youth for outsourcing roles and meet the demands of global companies.
He also urged collaboration to be enhanced in establishing more outsourcing centres for German companies in Egypt and facilitating the export of Egyptian talent to German firms.
Meanwhile, the German delegation praised Egypt’s specialized ICT workforce, noting that approximately 500-600 German companies struggle to find skilled professionals. This presents a significant opportunity for Egyptian talent to bridge this gap and meet the needs of German companies.
The delegation also clarified that Bavaria’s economy heavily relies on small and medium-sized enterprises.
They noted that the German-Arab Friendship Association is a platform for collaboration between the government and private sector on joint projects.