Cairo: Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat announced during the Etisal Association's annual celebration in Cairo that Egypt aims to raise the share of artificial intelligence (AI) in GDP to 7.7 percent by 2030. According to State Information Service Egypt, Minister Talaat highlighted the strong growth in the outsourcing industry. He stated that exports increased by 80 percent to $4.3 billion in 2024, the workforce rose by 70 percent to over 160,000 specialists, and the number of companies tripled to over 180 in just three years. Talaat noted that the rise reflects Egypt's growing ability to attract global and regional investments in outsourcing, supported by training, technical development, and innovation initiatives. Egypt currently hosts 14 mobile phone factories, with production expected to increase from 3.5 million units in 2024 to 9 million in 2025, as noted by the minister. He mentioned that exports are expected to begin later this year, facilitated by free trade agreemen ts that provide local manufacturers with a competitive edge. Outlining the 2025-2030 National AI Strategy, Talaat explained that it is based on six pillars. These include data governance, AI applications in priority sectors such as healthcare and justice, building human capital by training 30,000 AI specialists by 2030, and raising public awareness so that 25 percent of government workers and 36 percent of citizens can effectively use AI tools. Additionally, the minister applauded the graduation of the first class from Egypt University of Informatics (EUI), Africa's first specialized ICT University, which awards dual degrees in partnership with leading international institutions. Etisal Chairman Hossam Maguid praised the sector's achievements over the association's 21 years, citing Egypt's rising position in global AI readiness rankings. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between civil society, business, and government. During the event, Talaat, Maguid, and System Engineering of Egypt Chairman Ali Miniesy presented the Tarek Kamel Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2024/2025) to Mohamed Tarek and Naglaa Mohamed, founders of the Egyptian biotech-AI startup P Vita, which converts waste into fertilizers. Etisal Association works in the information and communications technology sector to create opportunities for training, jobs, startup growth, and raising awareness among various audiences, including young people, women, students, and entrepreneurs.