CAIRO, June 4 (MENA) – The Egyptian state, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, adopted a clear-cut strategic vision to build "Digital Egypt" based on a deep-seated conviction that the ICT sector is a promising industry, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said on Wednesday.

Alongside the traditional economic pillars of agriculture, industry, and tourism, the ICT sector serves as a major engine for economic development, he added.

Madbouli was speaking during the official launch ceremony of 5G mobile services in Egypt, which was held in Giza's Pyramids area in the presence of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat, the governor of Giza, and former ICT ministers.

A great host of senior officials from relevant state bodies and representatives of national and global mobile network operators (MNOs), including Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, e& Egypt, and Telecom Egypt, also attended the event.

Madbouli said the ICT sector is transforming from a service-oriented sector to a production-driven industry that contributes to the country’s economic and knowledge-based development, citing President Sisi’s remarks in a previous speech during which the president underlined the need to turn the ICT sector into a productive industry to boost production, create new jobs, and increase exports.

The premier said the rollout of 5G services in Egypt is an important milestone in the country’s efforts towards developing digital transformation, achieving technological empowerment, and promoting an economic development based on a digital infrastructure.

Madbouli also underscored the importance of the ICT sector as “the driver of development in the 21st century, not just because it is one of the fastest growing industries, but also because it is one of the most influential forces reshaping modern economy and transforming the way of providing services, producing knowledge, and improving education, healthcare, as well as government administration.” (MENA)

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