In an extensive visit to the Digital Egypt Innovation Center “Creativa” in Mansoura, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young Egyptians to compete in the global freelancing market, strengthening digital capabilities, and accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The visit, conducted alongside Dakahlia Governor Maj. Gen. Tarek Marzouk, included meetings with freelancers, innovators, entrepreneurs, trainees, and graduates of Creativa programs, as well as the signing of two major cooperation agreements aimed at driving institutional digital development and expanding community-level digital inclusion.
Minister: Freelancers are a key engine of Egypt’s digital economy
During a roundtable organized by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), Dr. Talaat met with a large group of Egyptian freelancers to discuss opportunities and challenges within the global gig economy.
He emphasized that freelancers have become “one of the most important production arms” of Egypt’s ICT sector — generating foreign currency, expanding employment opportunities, and serving as ambassadors of Egyptian talent through direct engagement with global companies.
Dr. Talaat noted that several multinational firms had worked with Egyptian freelancers before choosing to invest and open digital services centers in Egypt, reflecting a global trend in which companies test talent pools through online platforms before committing to major investments.
He added that Mansoura has a particularly strong base of skilled freelancers, which motivated the ministry to hold direct dialogues to understand their needs, enhance their competitiveness, and help them capture global opportunities.
Topics raised during the open session included digital service pricing, access to financial services, social insurance, health coverage, and mechanisms for the smooth transfer of foreign earnings — all of which are critical for freelancers’ long-term sustainability.
ITIDA showcases wide-ranging initiatives to support digital talent
ITIDA leaders presented their suite of programs supporting freelancers, including:
- ITIDA Gigs, a flagship program for developing freelancing skills
- Access to co-working spaces and specialized professional consultations
- Health insurance solutions and financial services through partnering entities
- Strengthening freelancers’ digital identity and professional portfolios
Marzouk pledged support for the community, calling on freelancers to share documentation of their work and client contracts to streamline credit facilitation and administrative services.
Dr. Talaat concluded the session by pledging that the ministry would study all challenges raised and develop concrete mechanisms to address them.
Two major MoUs signed to advance digital transformation in Dakahlia
The visit also included the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding:
1. Institutional Digital Development for Dakahlia Governorate
The first MoU aims to create a robust digital work environment across the governorate and its service directorates. It includes:
- Establishing IT and digital transformation units
- Deploying digital systems to enhance public services
- Capacity building for government employees
- Community-level digital literacy programs
The agreement was signed by Eng. Ghada Labib, Deputy Minister for Institutional Development, and Dr. Ahmed El-Adl, Deputy Governor of Dakahlia.
2. Digital Community Development
The second MoU focuses on empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities through ICT tools. Its five main pillars include:
- Economic empowerment for women via the “Qodwa-Tech” initiative (training 50 women on digital marketing and guiding 300 beneficiaries in e-commerce)
- Preparing youth for freelance careers by training 1,000 young Egyptians in programming, AI, and computing skills
- Expanding e-learning culture through accrediting five new e-learning centers and training 700 students and educators
- Enhancing digital citizenship and safe Internet use for 200 young people
- Supporting persons with disabilities through awareness sessions linked to the National Disability Services Network (Taheel)
The MoU was signed by Eng. Hoda Dahroug, Advisor to the Minister for Digital Community Development, and Dr. Ahmed El-Adl.
Success stories from Egypt’s digital talent pipelines
The minister met with graduates of several flagship ICT training programs — ITI, NTI, Digital Egypt Pioneers, Digital Egypt Builders, and others — who shared how advanced training enabled them to secure roles in global companies and thrive in freelancing markets.
Highlights included:
- AI-powered solutions developed by ITI trainees
- Specialized technical pathways such as 5G/6G, Cloud DevOps, and VoIP
- A fifth-grade student from “Digital Egypt Buds” describing how early-stage digital learning boosted critical thinking and creativity
- Success stories from “Digital Egypt Cubs,” “Digital Egypt Pioneers,” and “Digital Egypt Builders” programs
Two ITIDA-supported startups from Creativa Mansoura also showcased their innovations:
- “Lathgha”, an AI-powered speech therapy application, with investments of EGP 6 million and nearly $8,000 in sales
- “Gelsa.com”, a digital habilitation platform helping families support children with developmental challenges, with EGP 2.4 million in investments and over EGP 2 million in sales
Creativa Mansoura: A hub of innovation and future-ready talent
Concluding his visit, Dr. Talaat praised the inspiring examples of young innovators trained at Creativa, affirming that Egypt’s ICT sector offers “vast opportunities” across fields — driven by global demand for digitally skilled talent.
He emphasized that the rapid evolution of global technologies requires continuous upskilling, noting that the Creativa centers provide an integrated training ecosystem designed to build talent that keeps pace with industry needs.
In r this regard, Marzouk described the day as “exceptional,” highlighting Dakahlia’s economic diversity and strong human capital, and stressing the governorate’s commitment to deploying digital solutions that enhance public services.
