Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy and Governor of Beni Suef Abdullah Abdel Aziz have met with a group of young people who represent some of the most promising graduates of MCIT's initiatives for entrepreneurship support and digital skills development across a range of technology fields. The meeting took place at Creativa Innovation Hub in New Beni Suef Technology Park.
During the discussion, the ICT Minister expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to engage with the governorate's talented youth, describing them as a genuine driver of Egypt's digital future and as inspiring examples of individuals who have chosen to invest in their own capabilities and contribute meaningfully to a growing digital economy.
He explained that his visit to Beni Suef had included a tour of several projects reflecting investment in diverse areas, including electronics manufacturing, telecommunications infrastructure, the modernization of post offices and digital services, and initiatives supporting persons with disabilities through technology. He added that Creativa Hub represents a different kind of investment, one centered on people, emphasizing that developing human talent remains the most valuable form of investment. He reaffirmed MCIT's commitment to supporting young people in turning their ambitions into tangible success.
Beni Suef Governor, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the projects showcased during the visit and praised the role of Creativa as a valuable addition to the governorate. He highlighted the success stories of young people from Beni Suef who have secured strong job opportunities and encouraged residents to make full use of the hub's programs and services, stressing that all local resources are directed toward supporting its activities and expanding its reach.
During the meeting, Vice Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib reviewed MCIT's work under the Digital Empowerment and Safety Ambassadors initiative for Egyptian families, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity. The initiative focuses on preparing digitally aware community leaders by equipping them with knowledge in basic technology, digital tools, and data protection, enabling them to promote safe, responsible, and balanced technology use. In Beni Suef, around 734 community leaders have participated, reaching nearly 146,800 families and supporting their social and economic advancement.
She also outlined progress in delivering digital development targets within villages included in the Decent Life presidential initiative in the Nasser and Beba districts. A range of programs has been completed to tackle digital illiteracy, spread digital awareness, and strengthen citizens' digital skills, benefiting around 8,036 individuals through 11,019 training tracks and certifications.
The session also highlighted several community leaders who completed training under the Digital Safety Ambassadors program, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Solidarity.
CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher emphasized that Creativa Innovation Hub in Beni Suef represents a strong model for supporting the growth of the ICT sector in Upper Egypt. He noted that ITIDA works to create an environment that encourages innovation and helps transform ideas into scalable businesses, while offering comprehensive support to startups through incubators and accelerators. He added that efforts are also focused on enabling freelancers to access job opportunities and compete effectively on global platforms, in collaboration with universities, civil society, and the private sector.
Officials at Creativa presented performance indicators covering the period from April 2024 to March 2026. Eight technology startups have been incubated and supported, delivering solutions ranging from an online supermarket for Upper Egypt to heritage-inspired gaming, waste-to-biofuel conversion, AI-powered vertical farming, and smart medical data systems. Five of these startups have already graduated, securing funding exceeding EGP 7 million and generating annual revenues of more than EGP 25 million.
The hub has also trained 752 participants in entrepreneurship, 1,880 in technical skills, and supported 1,324 freelancers. In addition, it has hosted specialized competitions and delivered over 100 advisory sessions. Two startup success stories were showcased: one company providing advanced technical training in embedded systems, robotics, and AI through a hands-on, project-based model that enables engineers to develop their own solutions; and another offering an integrated platform for managing digital connectivity, helping businesses optimize how they access and use the internet.
Advisor to the ICT Minister for Technology Talents Development Hoda Baraka presented key indicators of the Digital Egypt Generations initiatives in Beni Suef. A total of 2,771 students have completed training, with 917 currently enrolled in Digital Egypt Marvels Initiative (DEMI) for primary school students. Another 1,715 students have completed training and 988 are currently enrolled in Digital Egypt Cubs Initiative (DECI) for preparatory and secondary school students. Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative (DEPI) has trained 819 participants, while Digital Egypt Builders Initiative (DEBI) includes 20 trainees, split between a professional master's program delivered in partnership with international universities, and advanced professional tracks in AI, business analysis, software development, and cybersecurity.
The session also featured personal success stories, including a participant who progressed from DEMI to DECI, a DECI student who advanced to an upper level in web development, and a DEPI graduate specializing in data analysis who has completed more than 100 freelance projects while also securing a full-time role with an international company.
A DEBI graduate in data science and cloud computing shared his experience, noting that he now works as an AI engineer and has developed advanced systems using modern technologies.
Chairperson of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) Heba Saleh reviewed the institute's activities at Creativa Innovation Hub, noting that more than 11,000 individuals have benefited from its programs over the past three years. These included awareness workshops, specialized training for graduates, and summer programs for university students. ITI aims to train 1,500 students, faculty members, and graduates during 2026–2027.
Several success stories from ITI's Intensive Code Camp were also presented, including a graduate working remotely for an Egyptian company developing an AI-based customer service agent, another working in software development for a U.S.-based firm, and a graduate serving as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Computer Science at Nahda University.
Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Ahmed Khattab outlined the institute's achievements since launching its Beni Suef branch, where around 2,376 trainees have graduated, with women accounting for 56 percent of participants. NTI's programs have focused on employment-oriented training, freelance support, skills development, institutional capacity-building, and women's digital empowerment.
Examples included a graduate specializing in 5G, 6G, and Open RAN technologies who completed HireReady, a four-month employment-readiness scholarship, received hands-on training with a major telecommunications company, and went on to work with international firms in Egypt, earning close to $500 per month. Another case highlighted a third-year university student who developed advanced penetration testing skills and now works through global platforms, earning between $600 and $700 monthly while continuing to build his expertise. A community leader also shared her experience, explaining how the training programs strengthened her digital and professional capabilities.
The meeting was attended by Chairperson of Egypt Post Dalia Elbaz, Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Egypt Tamer El Mahdi, Advisor to the ICT Minister for Digital Community Development Hoda Dahroug, President of the National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID) AbdEl-Monem El-Sharkawy, and Deputy Governor of Beni Suef Belal Habash.
In a related context, CEO of Silicon Waha for Technology Parks Hashem Mansi presented key performance indicators for New Beni Suef Technology Park, including growth in operations and job creation. Direct employment reached around 1,350 jobs in 2025, alongside thousands of training opportunities, with full occupancy achieved. Strategic partnerships with educational institutions and the private sector have contributed to training thousands of young people and creating an enabling environment for outsourcing and entrepreneurship in Upper Egypt.
The ICT Minister and Beni Suef Governor also toured Creativa Innovation Hub, visiting specialized labs, training facilities, and startup incubators. They attended presentations by participants in a competition focused on AI, robotics, and the Internet of Things, held at the electronics and digital fabrication lab inside the Hub.
Hendy also met with entrepreneurs and startup founders at Creativa, where he listened to their ideas, solutions, and experiences, as well as the challenges they face. He noted that efforts are underway to explore ways to support them and expand their connections with relevant stakeholders.
It is worth highlighting that the ICT Minister's visit to Beni Suef included a tour of Samsung's mobile phone and tablet manufacturing facility, the inauguration of the upgraded Beni Suef Main post office, an inspection of operations at New Beni Suef Telecom Egypt store in Shark Al-Nile St., and a visit to El-Noor School for the Blind. Two memoranda of understanding were also signed by MCIT and Beni Suef Governorate to strengthen cooperation in digital transformation, institutional development, and digital community development.
