Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty held talks on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi on ways to enhance cooperation between the two ministries in the fields of digital transformation and the development of consular services, with the aim of facilitating service delivery to Egyptian citizens at home and abroad.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty hailed the ongoing cooperation between the two ministries, particularly in the digitization of consular transactions through initiatives such as postal authentication and services provided via the Egypt Digital Platform. He affirmed the commitment to further developing and expanding these services while ensuring their efficiency and sustainability.
The two sides also stressed the importance of increasing awareness of digital services available to Egyptians abroad, alongside continued cooperation in providing authentication services through the National Postal Authority, and expanding access to such services to facilitate citizens' access to consular services.
For his part, Hindi emphasized the ministry's commitment to accelerating digital transformation across all state institutions to keep pace with technological developments, improve performance efficiency, and expand the availability of government services on the Egypt Digital Platform for citizens' convenience. He noted that a pilot model has been implemented for services provided to Egyptians abroad through the Egypt Digital Platform, enabling the electronic issuance of four duplicate certificates, with plans to expand the number of services, starting with those most in demand among Egyptians overseas.
The meeting also addressed ways to strengthen cooperation in information systems, digital infrastructure, and capacity building. Abdelatty commended the support provided by the Ministry of Communications to the ministry's digital transformation efforts, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation in developing digital systems and enhancing human resources, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analysis, within the framework of the state's digital transformation strategy.
During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to extend the exemption period granted to mobile phones brought in by Egyptians residing abroad during their visits to the country from 90 days to 120 days, effective April 1, in a move aimed at facilitating matters for citizens abroad and enhancing their access to digital services.
Following the meeting, the two ministers participated in the launch ceremony of a commemorative postage stamp marking the bicentenary of the establishment of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued in cooperation with the National Postal Authority. The issuance of the stamp comes as part of the Foreign Ministry's celebration of Diplomacy Day, observed annually on March 15, and reflects the long-standing history of Egyptian diplomacy and its role in serving national interests and strengthening Egypt's position at the regional and international levels.