By ; Rasha Hgag 

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy has delivered a recorded speech at the fourth Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report Summit (SDR Summit) 2026, organized by Entlaq in El Gouna, Red Sea, from September 10 to 12.

Under the theme “Data × Innovation: Reimagining Egypt’s Entrepreneurship Landscape,” the Summit is held under the auspices of the Egyptian Cabinet, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade (MIFT), the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). It brings together more than 500 investors, entrepreneurs, and experts.

In his remarks, the ICT Minister emphasized that entrepreneurship is a major driver of growth, job creation, and competitiveness, adding that the ICT sector serves as a key enabler for a wide range of economic sectors. He stated that supporting technology entrepreneurship not only drives growth in the ICT sector, but also helps other sectors improve efficiency, develop new business models, enhance service quality, and reaching wider markets. It also enables the government to harness startup innovation to address development challenges and deliver more agile and efficient solutions.

Hendy commended Entlaq for organizing the summit, which brings together stakeholders from across the entrepreneurship ecosystem for a data-driven dialogue designed to translate insights into policies, partnerships, and actionable measures that can support the growth of Egyptian companies. This year’s summit, he noted, builds on a trajectory that began with the release of Entlaq’s first Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report 2023, and evolved through subsequent editions, culminating in the 2025 version. SDR 2025 moved beyond assessing the current landscape to outlining pathways for reform and investment, along with a roadmap through 2030.

The ICT Minister explained that SDRs have helped shed light on several key challenges, particularly the complexity of administrative procedures, limited access to finance and markets, and the need for a regulatory environment better equipped to accommodate new business models. He underscored that this year’s version represents an opportunity to build on the progress made to date, assess what has been acieved, identify the gaps that remain, and move from diagnosis toward actionable priorities that can be implemented and tracked.

The ICT Minister also highlighted MCIT’s role in supporting MIFT’s vision of streamlining the investor experience, from establishing a company and securing the required approvals and licenses through to accessing services related to business operations and expansion. This is being achieved through an integrated digital ecosystem for government services tailored to the business community. He explained that MCIT’s efforts go beyond simply digitizing existing procedures; they also involve reengineering and integrating them to create a simpler, more transparent experience for businesses.

Such efforts, Hendy explained, are complemented by MCIT’s initiatives to develop skills and foster innovation through Creativa Innovation Hubs nationwide, connect startups with investors and markets, and give them access to AI technologies, data, and the computing power needed to turn ideas into scalable, competitive solutions. He further affirmed that MCIT’s goals go beyond increasing the number of startups to building sustainable companies that develop homegrown Egyptian products and intellectual property, meet real market needs, and expand from Egypt into regional and international markets.

Hendy concluded by reaffirming MCIT’s support for the business community and expressing his hope that SDR Summit 2026 would result in clear priorities, defined responsibilities, practical partnerships, and effective mechanisms for monitoring implementation. This, in turn, helps translating the findings into better decisions, more efficient services, and tangible opportunities for growth and investment.