Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Delivers Opening Remarks at the IDSC Seminar on Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Development

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping economic growth and development models globally.

 

International reports indicate that AI's contribution to the global economy will rise to $15 trillion by 2030.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, delivered the opening speech at a seminar titled "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Development and Prosperity: Visions and Concepts for the Future" at the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), as part of a series of seminars launched by the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) of the Cabinet and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

 

The seminar was attended by Dr. Osama El Gohary, Assistant Prime Minister and Head of the Information and Decision Support Center, Ms. Maryam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt, Dr. Ahmed Zayed, Director of the BA, Dr. Mohamed Al Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Consulting Center, and Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council.

 

At the beginning of her speech, H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat emphasized that AI is of great importance at the national level and is one of the main topics of concern for governments and decision-makers globally, especially in recent years, noting her recent participation in the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos for 2025, where AI and technological developments were a key issue for discussions at this important global forum.

 

H.E. affirmed that if the world talks about sustainable development that achieves a balance between the needs of the present and the requirements of future generations, in light of increasing and intertwined challenges at the economic, environmental and social levels, AI opens wide avenues to accelerate growth and achieve qualitative leaps in various fields and offer solutions to complex development challenges.

 

The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation further added that at the international level, the United Nations has repeatedly emphasized the critical role of AI in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report indicates that the contribution of AI to the global economy will reach more than 15 trillion dollars by 2030.

 

Dr. Al-Mashat also emphasized that Egypt has developed a national strategy for artificial intelligence that aims to enhance the use of this technology in all sectors, referring to the speech of H.E. President of the Republic during the launch of the the Second Edition of the Egypt's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2030, on the importance of completing the march towards building a digital society that adopts the latest global technologies and where artificial intelligence is a key pillar for development efforts, as its impact has become clear in all aspects of life, providing us with unprecedented opportunities for progress and sustainable growth.

 

Moreover, H.E. addressed the contribution of Artificial Intelligence to improving productivity efficiency across various sectors, from industry to agriculture to services, supporting more accurate and effective decision-making due to its ability to analyze big data and find innovative solutions to the challenges we face in all fields. However, the ability of any economy to benefit from this technological advancement is linked to its capacity to absorb such technology.

 

H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat explained that Egypt pays great attention to developing its digital infrastructure to create the appropriate environment for the growth of AI applications and build a strong and sustainable digital economy, through investment in telecommunications networks, data centers, cloud computing, and raising the efficiency of the human resources.

 

Al Mashat also added that as advanced AI applications require massive computing capabilities that consume large amounts of energy, Egypt is working to take advantage of its strategic location to make it a center for data transit around the world, in addition to being an ideal destination for the development of renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar energy, which gives it unique competitive advantages to meet the growing needs in this field.

 

H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that AI represents a tremendous technological revolution that carries unprecedented opportunities, but is also not without challenges. The increasing reliance on it may lead to social and economic impacts that need to be addressed wisely and responsibly. From the loss of some traditional jobs to deepening social gaps, and raising questions about privacy and data security, these challenges emerge as elements that must be addressed to ensure a balance between benefiting from the enormous potential of this technology and reducing its negative effects. Therefore, open and ongoing dialogue and constructive cooperation among all stakeholders are vital to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically for sustainable development and social justice.