Engineer Raafat Hendy, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing about a strategic shift in global development and competitiveness. He explained that AI is no longer just a tech issue; it's directly linked to the future of economies, digital sovereignty, and a nation's standing in the new global economy.
This statement came during the Minister's participation in a roundtable discussion on AI and digitalization at the Africa-France Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. He was part of the Egyptian delegation led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Hendy clarified that Africa's AI future needs to be built on a unified African vision and balanced partnerships. This includes ensuring fair access to advanced digital infrastructure to achieve comprehensive development that aligns with local priorities and national goals.
He also pointed out Egypt's eagerness to collaborate with African nations to support this vision. He stressed that the continent is seeing rapid progress in building national policies, governance frameworks, and innovation systems to ensure AI serves developmental priorities.
The roundtable discussed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Africa and France to build sustainable and flexible AI systems. Key areas of focus included developing digital and computing infrastructure, supporting training, research, and innovation, and promoting ethical and responsible AI governance that protects digital rights and the public interest.
The Minister emphasized that Africa's real challenge isn't a lack of talent. Instead, it's limited access to computing infrastructure and the ongoing reliance on models and technologies developed outside the continent.
Hendy then showcased Egypt's efforts in building a national institutional framework for responsible AI. This includes investing in sovereign digital models and foundations that can be developed and adapted.
He highlighted the "Karnak" large language model in Arabic as a significant step towards developing AI models tailored to the Arabic language and local needs. This initiative supports the digital sovereignty of Arab and African nations.
He also noted the use of AI in education, government services, and healthcare sectors. He explained that these efforts have helped Egypt advance 14 spots in the AI Readiness Index for 2025, reaching 51st globally.
The Minister stressed the importance of building interconnected African innovation ecosystems that bring together governments, the private sector, universities, and entrepreneurs. He also emphasized investing in the capabilities of African youth, seeing them as the primary drivers of the continent's future.
It's worth noting that the Africa-France Summit took place on May 11th and 12th under the theme "Africa Forward." The summit focused on economic growth, digital transformation, energy, and reforming the international financial system, with participation from African leaders, the French President, the UN Secretary-General, and representatives from international and regional financial institutions.
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