London: Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh participated in a key session on 'Digital Egypt: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Investment Opportunities' during his visit to London. The session was part of a ministerial mission organized by the Egyptian British Business Association (BEBA) and included leaders from technology, investment, and financial services sectors.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the session was attended by notable figures such as Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt and Regional Head of International Markets at Vodafone Group, and Todd Wilcox, CEO and Vice Chairman of HSBC Egypt. Ian Gray, Vice Chairman of the Egyptian British Business Council, moderated the session.
Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh highlighted the Egyptian government's focus on digital transformation as a means to bolster economic competitiveness and enhance the investment climate. He noted the government's strategy to use digitalization to reform government services and increase service efficiency for investors and companies.
The Minister detailed the Ministry's ongoing efforts to digitize the investor lifecycle, from company establishment to expansion. He emphasized that leveraging technology and digital transformation is essential for successful economic and investment reforms.
Saleh also discussed the opportunities arising from the digital economy, which could attract investments in technology, digital services, and data centers to Egypt, supported by the country's strategic location, telecommunications infrastructure, and skilled workforce.
Additionally, the Minister reviewed efforts to develop digital government services and electronically link various entities to reduce administrative burdens and document duplication for investors. The Ministry is actively working on a comprehensive project to digitize business start-up and operating licenses with relevant agencies.
Dr. Saleh reiterated the state's commitment to using technology and artificial intelligence to enhance government services, improve foreign trade efficiency, and boost exports. He highlighted the development of sandboxes for startups to innovate in trade, logistics, and export solutions.
The Minister underscored the importance of government-private sector partnerships in driving digital transformation, where the government provides a conducive regulatory environment and infrastructure, and the private sector leads innovation and technological development.