The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has attended the annual ceremony of the Information Technology Institute (ITI), held at ITI premises in Smart Village, under the theme “Egypt Tech Talents for Egypt and the World: 31 Years of Impact.”
The ceremony marked the graduation of 1,100 youth from Intake 44 of the Professional Training Program (PTP). PTP is designed to equip talents with advanced IT skills to address the evolving demands of local and global companies. The ceremony also showcased ITI remarkable achievements over 31 years in nurturing a generation of tech leaders and innovators.
During the ceremony, ITI training programs were highlighted. This year, 8,000 university graduates and 23,600 undergraduates nationwide were trained in areas of high demand in local and global markets and essential in the digital economy. These include Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analysis, cybersecurity, game development, digital arts, embedded systems, cloud computing, open-source and specialized software, and enterprise resource planning (ERP), among others.
In his remarks, the ICT Minister congratulated ITI graduates, commending their dedication and hard work that led to their successful graduation. He also praised the Institute’s role in cultivating and preparing a skilled ICT workforce.
Talaat underscored that ITI training programs aim to equip and empower youth with essential skills needed to enter the labor market. He mentioned that the global labor market is experiencing a significant resurgence across multiple dimensions, driven by rapid tech advancements, resulting in the development of jobs, specialties, and the skill set necessary to enable youth to excel and thrive in their career path.
The ICT Minister emphasized that the training programs have expanded to include all graduates, regardless of their academic major or background, with the aim of leveraging technology across various sectors and industries. He pointed out that the programs are provided to enhance the skills of freelancers, strengthening their capabilities and qualifying them to compete effectively in the local and global markets.
The ICT Minister referred to the Mahara-Tech platform, which was launched by ITI to expand the number of trainees and reach diverse groups of young people, helping them secure jobs within the ICT sector. He noted that the platform currently offers 400 training hours, accessible to anyone interested in pursuing a comprehensive training pathway.
Furthermore, Talaat underlined the significant transformation within the ICT sector. It has transitioned from being merely a service-oriented sector offering digital solutions to facilitate citizens’ access to services and managing and developing various telecom facilities and networks, into a productive service sector. The ICT sector currently plays a pivotal role in creating job opportunities and exporting services and products internationally.
Talaat added that the ICT sector has maintained its position as the fastest-growing state sector over the past six years, thanks to the efforts of its workforce that demonstrate exceptional capabilities in adopting and applying modern technology. He also underlined the widespread recognition of Egyptian capabilities and competencies by multinationals operating in Egypt.
Moreover, the ICT Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and its affiliates, including ITI, continue to offer more training programs and initiatives across all governorates, covering various specializations and targeting different age groups.
The ceremony spotlighted ITI significant contributions since its foundation in 1993 in preparing specialized tech talents to support ICT companies and encourage new companies to invest in the Egyptian market, thus creating job opportunities for graduates nationwide in local, regional, and global labor markets.
During the ceremony, ITI ongoing efforts to expand its training programs to address the needs of Egyptian and Arab youth were addressed, with a particular focus on establishing strategic partnerships with industrial and academic entities. The Institute’s programs cater to various age groups, ranging from adolescents through specialized programs aimed at developing technological skills, to different summer camps tailored for university students and graduates from various Egyptian universities.
Moreover, training programs offered through Mahara-Tech were referred to. The platform delivers free, high-quality digital educational content while promoting continuous learning in tech fields. Mahara-Tech enables individuals to access training opportunities anywhere, anytime, promoting continuing education in tech fields.
In a similar vein, the ICT Minister visited the “Bridging Talents to Industry” employment fair organized by ITI on the sidelines of the ceremony, featuring several IT companies. During the visit, Talaat met with ITI graduates and explored their developed innovative tech products and solutions.
In addition, Talaat engaged with representatives from the participating companies at the event to hear their insights on ITI graduates. The companies commended the graduates for their impressive competencies and skills.
For her part, ITI Chairwoman Heba Saleh stated that the event serves as a communication platform with ICT partners across various specializations, reflecting the evolving market needs, and helping ITI adapt the design, planning, and implementation of its training programs effectively. The event also contributes to meeting the growing market needs, in terms of quantity and quality, over the short and medium term.
Saleh highlighted ITI immense pride in empowering Egyptian youth from all governorates, including remote areas, by equipping them with the necessary technological skills to compete effectively in local and global labor markets. She pointed to ITI steadfast commitment to developing innovative training programs that align with the needs of the digital era while promoting freelance opportunities and supporting sustainable development. She added that the Institute’s goal is to serve as a leading tech platform contributing to shaping a brighter future for Egyptian youth.
The ceremony was attended by the Vice ICT Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib, the Director of the Armed Forces Information Systems Department Tawfiq Mukhtar, the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher, the Head of the Central Administration for Financial and Administrative Affairs at MCIT Samer Saeed, and the Chairman of the National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID) AbdEl-Monem El-Sharkawy.
