Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, recently completed a tour of Luxor and Qena, spotlighting the government’s strategic push to decentralize the nation’s tech landscape and foster digital entrepreneurship in Upper Egypt. The visit highlighted several key companies, from homegrown startups like Apex to major BPO centers, showcasing the region’s growing potential as a hub for tech talent and digital exports.
Spotlight on Homegrown Innovation
During the tour, Dr. Talaat visited two notable startups that exemplify the success of local talent in Upper Egypt. In Luxor, the minister stopped at the headquarters of Apex, an EdTech company founded by a local female engineer, Nihad Al-Adly. In Qena, the focus was on NetArabia, a digital services firm that has successfully expanded its client base to the Gulf region. These visits underscore the Ministry’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized tech enterprises and expanding the base of digital service exporters beyond Cairo.
Apex Nurturing Future Tech Talent
Apex stands out as a prime example of digital entrepreneurship emerging from Upper Egypt. Founded in 2018, the company specializes in teaching programming and computer science in Arabic to children aged 6 to 15 through its STEM.org-accredited digital platform. Apex has benefited directly from government support, participating in a pre-incubation business acceleration program offered by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC) of ITIDA. Since its inception, the company has trained over 6,100 students and provides web development services to clients in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.
NetArabia Exporting Digital Services From Qena
In Qena, Dr. Talaat visited NetArabia, an IT and digital marketing firm founded in 2016. The company has become a key digital exporter, generating approximately AED 800,000 in annual exports to clients in the Gulf, including prominent companies and government entities. Led by founder and CEO Mohamed Sayed, NetArabia has expanded its footprint with offices in Hurghada, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, with future plans for Qatar and Oman. The company employs over 80 professionals and provides a comprehensive suite of services, including digital marketing, CRM and ERP systems, and application development. It has also trained over 3,500 university students across Upper Egypt, contributing to local capacity building.
Anchoring The Ecosystem With Major Employers
The tour also emphasized the role of established corporations in creating large-scale employment opportunities. In Qena, the Minister inspected the Xceed customer service center, a key facility for Telecom Egypt (WE). Established a decade ago, the center now employs around 1,600 people, providing a full range of call center and technical support services. This visit, along with the inauguration of a new center for global CX giant Foundever in Luxor, highlights the region’s increasing importance as a destination for the outsourcing and customer experience industry.
About Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is the Egyptian government body responsible for developing the nation’s information and communications technology sector. Its mandate includes fostering innovation, promoting digital transformation across all sectors, building digital capacities, and attracting foreign direct investment to position Egypt as a leading digital hub in the region.
Source: Hapi Journal
