Egypt holds talks with Yemen to enhance ICT Cooperation

By:  Kanto Kai Okanta

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hendy, has held talks with Yemen’s Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Shadi Saleh Basurra, to enhance bilateral cooperation in the ICT sector, with a focus on digital transformation and capacity building.

The meeting explored opportunities for knowledge-sharing and the exchange of expertise, drawing on Egypt’s advancing experience in digital transformation across government services and infrastructure. Discussions highlighted initiatives by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to build digital skills across various age groups, aimed at preparing a workforce aligned with evolving labor market demands.

Officials also reviewed Egypt’s progress in strengthening telecommunications infrastructure, including the rollout of 5G services and the allocation of spectrum to support deployment. Hendy reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation across public sectors and expanding access to digital government services through the Digital Egypt platform.

He further underscored the longstanding relations between Egypt and Yemen, expressing optimism about deepening cooperation through technical collaboration and capacity development, particularly in enhancing Yemen’s telecom services and infrastructure.

The Egyptian minister also highlighted the country’s achievements in postal services, noting Egypt’s role as a founding member of the Universal Postal Union and recent advancements by Egypt Post in digital and financial service delivery.

For his part, Basurra expressed interest in leveraging Egypt’s expertise in e-government services, digital infrastructure, and 5G deployment as Yemen works to rebuild its telecommunications sector, which has been significantly impacted over the past decade. He emphasized the importance of capacity building and institutional development to support the country’s recovery and long-term growth.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries, including representatives from Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority, Telecom Egypt, and Yemen’s Public Telecom Corporation.