Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt’s ICT Minister joins launch of AI Centre for Sustainable Development in Rome
As part of Egypt’s commitment to advancing digital innovation in Africa, Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, has participated in the official launch of the "Artificial Intelligence Centre for Sustainable Development" in Rome.
The event took place at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) headquarters, in the presence of Italy’s Minister of Enterprise and Industry, Mr. Adolfo Urso, as well as ministers, government officials from African nations, and representatives from international organizations and leading technology companies.
This significant centre was launched under the Italian Presidency of the G7 in 2024, and represents a close partnership between Italy and the UNDP, with support from the European Union. Dr. Talaat attended at the personal invitation of Minister Urso, highlighting the strong collaboration between Egypt and Italy in advancing innovation on the African continent.
The new centre will accelerate Africa’s digital transformation by fostering industrial growth built on artificial intelligence, in line with the African Union’s AI Strategy. Fourteen African nations, including Egypt, have been selected for the initiative’s initial phase.
The centre’s goals include greatly expanding access to computing resources for African AI innovators, building sustainable AI infrastructure in priority countries, encouraging partnerships between African start-ups and Italian G7 companies, and developing AI applications to address critical development challenges. The centre also aims to attract new investment, supporting the growth of Africa’s dynamic AI ecosystem.
Representing Egypt, Dr. Ahmed Tantawi, Head of Egypt’s Applied Innovation Centre, was chosen as a founding member of the initiative’s Executive Steering Board. Dr. Tantawi actively participated in discussions during the conference, sharing insights and exploring collaborative pathways toward the centre’s future goals.
Egypt’s participation in this landmark initiative underscores the country’s commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence for the inclusive, sustainable development of Africa and creating new bridges of cooperation with international partners.