Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology visited the Digital Egypt Innovation Hub Creativa, established by the Ministry within Mansoura University, accompanied by Major General Tarek Marzouk, Governor of Dakahlia. The hub aims to foster a supportive ecosystem for technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and to develop the capabilities of youth across Dakahlia in various ICT specializations.
At the outset of the visit, Dr. Amr Talaat toured the hub's labs equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. He then co-chaired, alongside Governor Tarek Marzouk, a roundtable discussion with a group of freelancers. The session was organized by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the freelancing sector and to highlight the mechanisms the Ministry offers to support freelancers. The meeting was attended by Engineer Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of ITIDA, and senior officials from the Ministry and the Governorate.
In his remarks, Dr. Amr Talaat stressed that freelancers represent one of the most vital production arms of Egypt's ICT sector due to their key role in strengthening Egypt's regional and global presence, expanding employment opportunities, and contributing to the inflow of foreign currency into the national economy. He added that freelancers serve as Egypt's ambassadors worldwide through their direct engagement with international clients.
Dr. Talaat noted that many multinational companies, prior to investing and establishing digital service centers in Egypt, had previously worked with Egyptian freelancers—a trend that aligns with global practices where major companies assess talent pools through freelancing platforms before selecting countries for expansion.
He emphasized the Ministry's efforts to promote a freelancing culture among youth, highlighting that Mansoura has a strong base of highly skilled freelancers. He added, that this was a primary reason for holding this dialogue to better understand their needs, discuss ways to enhance their competitiveness in the global freelancing market, and enable them to secure opportunities against international counterparts.
The meeting featured an open discussion on several topics of interest to the freelancing community, including access to financial services, social insurance, healthcare coverage, pricing mechanisms for digital services, and means of facilitating the transfer of foreign currency earnings to ensure the sustainability and global competitiveness of freelance professionals.
The meeting also included a presentation on ITIDA's initiatives to support freelancers, including its integrated service portfolio and specialized training and mentorship programs, foremost among them is ITIDA Gigs, designed to strengthen freelancing capabilities. The initiatives focus on providing practical solutions to challenges such as health insurance services, work visas, financial and social programs through linkages with service providers, in addition to co-working spaces, professional consultations, and support for enhancing freelancers' digital profiles and professional identity.
Governor Tarek Marzouk affirmed his commitment to offering a package of facilitations and services to freelancers. He stressed the importance of sustained communication and collaboration and requested any documentation that highlights the nature of their digital projects and contracts with clients to streamline their requests, especially those related to credit facilities.
Concluding the meeting, Dr. Amr Talaat confirmed that the Ministry will assess all challenges voiced by freelancers and develop actionable mechanisms to address them, ensuring that more Egyptian youth are empowered to compete globally.
Dr. Talaat also held an expanded meeting with beneficiaries of Creativa Mansoura's programs, including trainees, entrepreneurs, and freelancers.
During the meeting, he commended the inspiring success stories emerging from Creativa Mansoura graduates, which reflect the vision behind the establishment of the Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs, to position these centers as destinations for all those aspiring to pursue ICT careers or develop their capabilities and professional pathways.
He noted that the ICT sector offers promising opportunities across diverse academic and professional backgrounds due to the rising demand for trained talent in emerging technology fields. He emphasized that Egypt possesses exceptional human capital and that the Ministry places strong focus on developing this high-value resource and strengthening youth competitiveness. He pointed out that demand for digital skills has become global and borderless, opening wide horizons for Egyptian youth but also presenting intense competition that requires perseverance and continuous learning.
Dr. Talaat highlighted that modern job markets are defined by rapid shifts in required technologies and skills. He noted that the Creativa Hubs provide a comprehensive training ecosystem designed to equip young professionals with capabilities aligned to evolving labor market needs.
Governor Tarek Marzouk described the day as exceptional, reflecting the significant national efforts invested in digital transformation and ICT development. He noted that Dakahlia Governorate, known for its diverse agricultural and industrial base, has long been home to leading national figures in multiple fields. He also praised Mansoura University as a distinguished academic institution with strong regional and international standing.
He emphasized that the governorate is rich with exceptional technological talent and that efforts will focus on leveraging this human capital to implement digital projects that enhance service delivery for Dakahlia citizens.
The meeting also featured presentations from two startups supported by ITIDA through the Creativa Mansoura hub: First, "Lath'gha", a digital therapeutic application powered by artificial intelligence to treat speech disorders, stuttering, and aphasia, with total investments reaching EGP 6 million and sales nearing USD 8,000. The second startup is "Jalsa.com", an advanced digital habilitation platform using AI-driven assessments to support children with developmental and behavioral challenges, with total investments of EGP 2.4 million and sales exceeding EGP 2 million.
Graduates of ITI's flagship programs delivered within Creativa Mansoura—including the 6-month and 9-month intensive programs, the summer internship, and the MaharaTech platform; shared their experiences and explained how the training enabled them to secure positions in global companies, develop AI-powered digital solutions, and transform their ideas into market-ready technology products. Many also confirmed that the programs supported their entry into the global freelancing market across multiple technology tracks.
Graduates of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) programs delivered through Creativa Mansoura, including the Creativa Freelancing Program and the 4-Month Track, also shared their experiences across specialized fields such as 5G–6G, Cloud DevOps, and VoIP, explaining how advanced training equipped them with the technical skills needed to secure high-quality employment in major ICT firms.
Several success stories from the Digital Egypt Generations Initiatives were also highlighted. A fifth-grade student enrolled in the "Digital Egypt Marvels Initiative (DEMI) program described how the initiative enhanced her technical skills, critical thinking, and creativity, and enabled her to participate in the "Digitopia" competition. A graduate of the "Digital Egypt Cubs" cybersecurity program highlighted how he advanced his technical and personal skills through the program. Another graduate of Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative (DEPI) shared how the program helped him advance professionally and secure opportunities in freelancing both within Egypt and internationally.
Additionally, a graduate of the Digital Egypt Builders (DEBI) spoke about her experience earning a professional master's degree in Digital Arts through a partnership between the Ministry and an international university.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Heba Saleh, President of the Information Technology Institute; Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Director of the National Telecommunication Institute; Dr. Mohamed Attia, Vice President of Mansoura University for Education and Student Affairs; and senior officials from the Ministry and the Governorate.
