The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has delivered a talk via videoconference at the 24th Session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), on May 17-21, online.
The Session reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and followed up on such outcomes, on the international and regional levels.
The ICT Minister stated that Digital Egypt strategy was formulated within the framework of a vision, the main pillar and driver of which is ICT tools. The strategy is implemented according to a work approach based on promoting innovation to develop and apply scientific research and emerging technologies in specific initiatives aimed at providing non-traditional solutions to pressing life and social challenges. The work approach also involves developing the necessary digital skills to provide excellent learning and work opportunities for youth and women.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has established the Applied Innovation Center (AIC), which will be located in the New Administrative Capital, with the aim of providing an opportunity for successful partnerships that bring together specialists, academics, beneficiaries and leading tech companies to work together to develop effective solutions to the challenges facing the Egyptian society using modern digital technologies, Talaat said.
He presented some of the projects that AIC is carrying out in line with WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in which emerging technologies are capitalized to improve people’s lives. This included a project for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect the early signs of diabetic retinopathy to avoid vision loss, a solution that will have an effective and beneficial impact on people’s lives, especially in remote and rural areas.
Another project aims to develop solutions for planning radiotherapy for cancer, and improving radiotherapy and immunotherapy protocols. The AIC is also adopting AI in the agricultural sector. The Center is implementing a project in cooperation with a number of stakeholders and multinational companies to use AI and satellite imagery in several areas, including crop inventory using spectral footprint.
Moreover, the AIC is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture to carry out the Egyptian agricultural guide project. It involves developing a smart assistant supported with Arabic, to guide farmers directly and personally via an AI-powered mobile application. The app provides guidance in different areas, including irrigation methods, crop scheduling and prices, and weather forecasts and their impact on the crops. The AIC also seeks to carry out joint projects to develop AI-based solutions for predictive analytics and precision agriculture.
The ICT Minister also referred to the ICT for Comprehensive Community Development in Agriculture (ICT4CCDA) project, which was selected as one of WSIS Prizes 2021 Champion Projects. He stressed the State’s keenness to reflect the development and use of emerging digital technologies on the society as a whole to create a more prosperous, inclusive and integrating life for all the segments of the society, especially in the most needy, rural and remote areas, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and women.
Talaat pointed out the efforts exerted in Haya Karima (Decent Life) presidential initiative, which comes in line with many WSIS Action Lines and SDGs, with the aim to reach 60 million people in 4,500 villages, in three years. The initiative targets providing digital infrastructure and internet access to unconnected places, and rendering digitized basic services.
Furthermore, the ICT Minister touched upon the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s “Roadmap for Digital Cooperation” report, commending the all-encompassing approach that the UN organizations intend to adopt to actively participate in the ambitious national plans. Talaat underlined MCIT keenness to participate in all relevant events to benefit from the experiences of other participating countries, and to enhance digital cooperation as a catalyst to attain the desired sustainable development.
Talaat also commended the “Implementing WSIS Outcomes” report and its different aspects that addressed the international and regional efforts when it comes to the basic pillars of an inclusive, integrated digital society, with reducing cybercrime and its negative impact on the environment, as well as protecting privacy.
He also praised the successful experiences of a number of participating countries, and hoped that the CSTD Contribution to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) include developing a mechanism for measuring the impact of digital transformation and the use of sciences and digital technology on the economy and the quality of life of different groups, especially the most needy, in a way that helps advance sustainable development for the benefit of everyone, without exception.
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