Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EEIC), affiliated with the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD), participated in Cairo ICT, held at the New Cairo Exhibition Center from November 19 to 22. Dr. Heba Medhat Zaki, Director of EEIC, represented the center and chaired two panel discussions during the event.
The first session, titled "Entrepreneurship in Egypt: Towards a More Cohesive Ecosystem," addressed key challenges that hinder the integration of Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating obstacles for startups and entrepreneurs. Dr. Heba Zaki highlighted that, according to the latest statistics, Egypt has over 400 ecosystem players, including government institutions, business incubators and accelerators, university-based and private entrepreneurship centers, and venture capital and angel investors. However, despite this vast network, several gaps remain in the system. The discussion emphasized Egypt’s potential to develop a competitive advantage in specific industries, such as high-tech and advanced digital manufacturing. However, to unlock this potential, greater coordination between government efforts, universities, research centers, and the private sector is essential. The panel also stressed the need to create a more attractive environment for young entrepreneurs by making the ecosystem more dynamic and removing barriers that discourage youth from launching their businesses.
Furthermore, the session highlighted the importance of raising awareness among young entrepreneurs about the roles of different ecosystem stakeholders, enabling them to navigate the system effectively. Dr. Heba Zaki pointed out that the Entrepreneurship Coordination Committee, established by a Prime Ministerial decree in May 2023, is working to bridge these gaps. The session concluded with key recommendations, including strengthening networking and coordination between ecosystem players, removing obstacles to foster a more supportive environment, and enhancing collaboration between universities, research institutions, incubators, accelerators, industry players, and the government. The discussion also emphasized the importance of preparing young entrepreneurs to attract investments, as well as the need for a national entrepreneurship and innovation index to provide data-driven insights for ecosystem stakeholders.
In the second panel, chaired by Dr. Heba Zaki on behalf of Dr. Sherifa Sherif, Executive Director of NIGSD, the session explored the institute’s digital transformation initiatives. The discussion showcased several innovative programs under NIGSD, including the "Be an Ambassador" initiative and the "Governance Ambassadors" initiative. Dr. Heba Zaki and Dr. Hussein Abaza, an international expert in sustainable development and the green economy, emphasized the institute’s commitment to raising awareness on sustainable development and governance among youth and various social groups.
Eng. Mohamed Abdel Azim, Director of Geospatial Information Infrastructure Projects at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, also highlighted major digitalization projects led by the Egyptian government, including the Birth and Death Registration System, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. This project enables real-time registration of births and deaths, creating an updated database linked to financial, pension, and social security systems, ultimately optimizing state resources.
As Egypt’s largest annual technology event, Cairo ICT serves as a premier platform for showcasing and discussing the latest advancements in information and communication technology. The exhibition brings together leading tech companies, research institutions, and industry experts, offering insights into cutting-edge innovations and emerging trends through conferences, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops.
