• Egypt's ICT Minister met with FPT Software, Viettel Group, Samsung Electronics Vietnam, and VNPT to explore digital partnerships.

• Discussions focused on semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, IC design, 5G networks, and positioning Egypt as a regional ICT hub.

• Egypt signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Vietnam, showcasing national capabilities in digital forensics and cyber investigations.

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat concluded a high-level visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he held strategic meetings with executives from major ICT and electronics multinationals to explore investment opportunities and technological partnerships that could position Egypt as a regional digital manufacturing and innovation hub.

The visit, conducted in the presence of Egypt's Ambassador to Vietnam Hany Mostafa, focused on leveraging Egypt's competitive advantages in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, and digital capacity building to attract Asian technology investments, according to a ministry statement released October 27.

Talaat met with Rimah Ghaddar, Managing Director of FPT Software Middle East, a global technology solutions provider, and company officials to discuss FPT Corporation's potential investments in Egypt across IT applications and the semiconductors industry. The discussions reviewed activities of FPT Corporation's subsidiaries, including FPT Software, FPT Semiconductor, FPT Automotive, and capacity-building initiatives through FPT Education and FPT University. Both sides explored opportunities for implementing joint projects with Egyptian companies in ICT, electronics, and electric vehicle technologies targeting regional and international markets.

The Minister also met with Cao Anh Son, Deputy General Director of Viettel Group, to explore cooperation in telecommunications, digital transformation, application development, and advanced technologies including electronics manufacturing, IC design, and 5G networks.

During a visit to Samsung Electronics Vietnam, Talaat met with General Director Na Ki Hong and toured the company's smartphone manufacturing complex, examining various production stages and manufacturing lines. Discussions reviewed Samsung's investments in Vietnam and its R&D strategy, while highlighting Egypt's efforts to promote local electronics manufacturing and the presence of major mobile phone manufacturers, including Samsung, already operating in the country.

Beyond commercial discussions, Talaat led Egypt's high-level delegation to the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, where he signed the Convention as Egypt's representative. Egypt organized a session titled "From Breach to Verdict — Egypt's Comprehensive Approach for International Cyber Justice and Regional Capacity," highlighting digital forensics and cyber investigations. The country also participated in an exhibition showcasing national capabilities in combating cybercrime.

Egypt's IT sector recorded 14.4% growth during fiscal year 2023/2024, becoming the fastest-growing state sector for six consecutive years. The Vietnam outreach follows closely on the heels of Egypt hosting a Swiss business delegation at Smart Village on October 22, where the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) showcased the country's digital economy to executives from Geneva and Swiss Chambers of Commerce.

The back-to-back diplomatic initiatives signal Egypt's intensified global courtship of technology investors across both European and Asian markets. The Vietnam visit signals Egypt's strategic push to diversify its technology partnerships beyond traditional Western markets, tapping into Asian manufacturing expertise and investment capital to accelerate its digital transformation and electronics industrialization agenda.

Hikmatu Bilali