Egypt's AI strategy aims for significant economic growth by 2030

Egypt is at a crucial point in its digital transformation, focusing on artificial intelligence to drive economic value. The country's National AI Strategy aims to increase AI's contribution to its GDP to over $42.7 billion by 2030, representing about 7.5% of total economic output. This ambition is set against a global backdrop where AI is expected to contribute approximately $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and increase global trade flows by nearly 40% by 2040. While Egypt has made progress in digitizing government services and expanding digital payment infrastructure, the challenge now is to move beyond basic digitization to achieve measurable economic impact through AI adoption. Ayman Agha, an AI and digital transformation expert, emphasizes that simply automating processes is not enough; integrating AI solutions creates real added value by enabling predictive models and reshaping business models. However, significant barriers remain, including data readiness, infrastructure limitations, and organizational commitment to scaling AI initiatives beyond pilot projects. Despite these challenges, AI adoption is advancing in specific sectors, with examples like Vodafone Egypt improving customer service and financial services reducing operating costs through AI. Mohamed Azzam, Board Member at the International Association of Management of Technology, highlights that economic sovereignty depends on owning technology, not just adopting it, urging investment in local AI capa