CAIRO, May 14 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed on Thursday that Egypt is pursuing a clear strategic vision aimed at building a generation capable of competing in the global labor market.

Addressing a ceremony organized by the Education Development Fund to launch the “One Million International Licenses” initiative and the International Labor Market Observatory, on behalf of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Madbouly said he was pleased to participate in the event, which reflects the state’s deep belief that real investment begins with the Egyptian people.

“We are not only celebrating today the awarding of 2,000 international licenses in the fields of technology, languages, and freelance work, but also reaffirming a clear strategic direction adopted by the Egyptian state to build a generation capable of competing in the global labor market and qualified to shape its own future,” the prime minister said.

Madbouly said modern development standards are increasingly linked to countries’ ability to prepare skilled human capital with digital expertise, foreign language proficiency and entrepreneurship capabilities, as Egypt seeks to expand opportunities in the global digital economy.

Madbouly said digital skills, foreign languages and freelance work capabilities had become key drivers for job creation inside and outside Egypt, particularly amid the global expansion of remote work and service exports.

The prime minister said the government was working according to a “triangle of skills” framework that combines advanced digital skills, foreign languages and internationally recognized freelance work competencies as the foundation for empowering Egyptian youth.

Madbouly said the initiative, launched under directives from President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, aims to qualify one million young Egyptians to obtain internationally accredited certifications in technical and professional fields to strengthen their competitiveness in global labor markets.

He added that the launch of the “International Labor Market Observatory” represents one of the strategic projects of Egypt’s Education Development Fund, aimed at monitoring global labor market trends and linking them with education and training pathways in Egypt to guide youth toward the most in-demand global specializations and skills.

Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif said the ministry had expanded access to digital qualification programs through the establishment and activation of Cisco academies across all Egyptian governorates in coordination with the ministry’s technology development sector.

He added that the training programs are delivered entirely by ministry trainers, reflecting what he described as a sustainable national model for building digital skills. The ministry is also focusing on entrepreneurship and freelance work skills through a curriculum titled “Khotwa” aimed at promoting entrepreneurial culture among students.

Rasha Saad Sharaf, secretary-general of the Education Development Fund, said the fund provides internationally accredited certifications rather than traditional training, enabling young Egyptians to compete globally.

She cited successful cases of Egyptian youth who secured freelance work through international digital platforms after completing the programs, noting that one trainee earned up to $5,000 within a short period because of the acquired skills.

Sharaf said the programs target participants aged between 14 and 40 through initiatives including “Digital Summer,” “Digital Winter” and “Be Ready,” implemented in cooperation with the education and higher education ministries.

She added that female participation in the training programs reached 52%, exceeding the global average, while highlighting strong participation by people with disabilities.

Representatives from the European Union and Germany’s GIZ development agency also voiced support for Egypt’s digital skills and vocational education initiatives, including sponsorship of 300 internationally accredited Cisco certifications for technical education students.

Chris Reeves, vice president for digital impact at Cisco, said the company was proud of its strategic partnership with Egypt and the Education Development Fund, describing digital skills development as a central pillar of economic and social development worldwide.

Participants at the event said Egypt remains committed to building a knowledge-based economy and advancing digital transformation, with youth empowerment viewed as a cornerstone of sustainable development under the country’s “New Republic” vision. (MENA)

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