The agreement followed a meeting in Cairo between Syrian Communications Minister Iyad Al-Khatib and FEDCOC President Ahmed El-Wakil, attended by senior Egyptian digital economy officials. The visit marks the first practical step following a FEDCOC delegation's trip to Syria last week aimed at bolstering economic ties.
El-Wakil highlighted that Egypt’s ICT sector is the nation's
fastest-growing economic pillar, expanding at annual rates of 14-16% and
contributing roughly 6% to the GDP. He noted that digital exports are projected
to surge by 700%, exceeding $7.4 billion by 2025.
Discussions focused on transferring Egypt’s expertise in
e-government applications, digital infrastructure development, and supporting
startups. The talks also covered Egypt’s national initiatives, such as
"Digital Egypt" centers and the "Egypt Makes Electronics"
program, which aims to increase exports and localize electronic component
manufacturing.
"We aim for a genuine partnership that creates added
value and jobs through the integration of our comparative advantages," El-Wakil
said. He added that the Egyptian private sector is ready to share its expertise
in sectors critical to Syria’s reconstruction, including infrastructure and
industry.
Both parties agreed to organize the Egyptian-Syrian IT forum
in Damascus in the coming period as a mechanism to activate the partnership.
Engineer Khalil Hassan Khalil, head of the General Division for Digital Economy, confirmed that the upcoming phase will involve training Syrian cadres and implementing joint technological projects to enhance the regional footprint of Egyptian IT companies while supporting the Syrian economy.