Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Egypt)
The Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is a government body headquartered in Smart Village Egypt. Established in 1999, the Ministry is responsible for information and communications technology (ICT) issues in the Arab Republic of Egypt, including the planning, implementation, and operation of government ICT plans and strategies. It is led by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, who is nominated by the Prime Minister and is a member of the Cabinet. The current ICT Minister is Amr Talaat, who assumed office on June 14, 2018.
| 'MCIT' | |
 MCIT Premises | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 October 1999 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Egypt |
| Headquarters | Smart Village Egypt 6th of October, Giza Governorate |
| Minister responsible | |
| Website | www.mcit.gov.eg |
History
In September 1999, former President Hosni Mubarak launched a national program for developing the ICT sector in Egypt. The goals of the program were to foster the development of an information society in Egypt and stimulate the growth of a strong, competitive, vibrant, and export-oriented ICT sector. The cornerstone of the program was the establishment of the Ministry, in October 1999, to lead those efforts.
MCIT, then led by Ahmed Nazif, forged a national ICT plan that involved carrying out projects and initiatives aimed at supporting public-private partnerships to develop and expand the telecom infrastructure, enable ICT access to all citizens, develop the digital Arabic content, and create a large pool of trained ICT professionals.
Vision and mission
MCIT was founded with the aim to facilitate Egypt's assimilation of the global information society. The mandate of the Ministry is to support the development of the local ICT industry, helping boost exports, create jobs, promote the nationwide use of ICT as a means to achieve national development goals, and lay the foundations of a knowledge society, in collaboration with government agencies, civil society, and the private sector.
Ministers
| Name | Term of Office |
|---|---|
| Ahmed Nazif | October 1999 - July 2004 |
| Tarek Kamel | July 2004 - February 2011 |
| Maged Osman | February 2011 - July 2011 |
| Mohamed Salem | July 2011 - August 2012 |
| Hany Mahmoud | August 2012 - January 2013 |
| Atef Helmy | January 2013 - March 2015 |
| Khaled Negm | March 2015 - September 2015 |
| Yasser ElKady | September 2015 - June 2018 |
| Amr Talaat | June 2018 – Present |
Strategy
Over the years, MCIT designed, launched and implemented several strategies and national development plans. One of the most prominent strategies is Digital Egypt, an all-encompassing vision and plan laying the foundations for transforming Egypt into a digital society. Building Digital Egypt stands on three main pillars: digital transformation, digital upskilling, and digital innovation. Those pillars are powered by two key planks: the ICT infrastructure and legislation and governance.
In 2022, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the Digital Egypt platform as part of the efforts to achieve a fulfilling digital transformation. The platform ensures better, broader, and smoother access to a wide range of public services.
Affiliate Organizations
The MCIT collaborates with several organizations as part of their work.
National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) was founded in 2003 under the Telecommunications Regulation Law to serve as a national authority responsible for the administration and regulation of the telecommunication sector while maintaining transparency, open competition, universal service, and protection of users’ rights.
Information Technology Industry Development Agency
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) was established in 2004 with the mandate of spearheading the development of the Egyptian IT sector and enhancing its global competitiveness, thus stimulating the country's economic growth and creating job opportunities. The Agency works to boost Egypt's global ICT competitiveness by developing the outsourcing and offshoring industry, boosting digital exports, and attracting FDI.
Egypt Post
Founded in 1865, Egypt Post is one of the longest-standing government organizations in Egypt. For over 157 years, Egypt Post has been serving as a one-stop shop offering citizens a wide range of postal and financial services. To fulfill its universal service obligation, Egypt Post delivers high-quality yet affordable services through as many as 4,300+ postal outlets available nationwide.
Information Technology Institute
The Information Technology Institute (ITI) was established in 1992. Acting as the training arm of MCIT, the Institute develops youth capabilities and skills through a diversified set of capacity-building programs and professional coaching. The aim is to build capacity and qualify young people through academic, postgraduate, and advanced training to join the job marketplace.
National Telecommunication Institute
The National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) was founded in 1983 as a center of excellence dedicating its resources to providing high-quality education and training for telecommunication engineers. NTI is a scientific, educational, and research institution that offers advanced training with hands-on experience through state-of-the-art facilities, targeting local and regional markets, including the Nile Basin countries. In 2006, Cisco Systems accredited NTI as a Cisco Academy Training Center (CATC) for the MENA region.