Minister of Planning and Economic Development Joins Launch of 'KMT' Smart Assistance for State Administration

H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, participated on behalf of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, in the launch ceremony of the smart assistance for the state administrative apparatus: the "KMT" system, held by the Central Agency for Organization and Administration, in the presence of Dr. Saleh El-Sheikh, the head of the agency, and several ministers and parliamentary representatives.

Dr. Hala El-Said stated that the event is an extension of the tangible efforts exerted by the agency to develop the work system of the state administrative apparatus, culminating in a distinguished initiative that positively contributes to supporting institutional development through digitization and enhancing the efficiency of using modern technology applications, according to the latest international standards.

She continued that amid the crises witnessed globally in recent years, starting with the COVID-19 crisis, followed by various geopolitical changes hindering the pace of growth and development in different countries, the concept of technological progress and innovation has transformed from a scientific term to an evolved approach and a common denominator for solving problems in all development fields and daily activities. It has become essential to meet the needs of individuals and society, leading to increased informational wealth, improved communication methods, and time and effort savings.

In the economic realm, the shift towards digital economy and the expansion of electronic financial services represent a global trend adopted by various countries, whether advanced or still taking steps towards development. The transition to the digital economy is one of the fruits of the interaction between global economic applications, the knowledge revolution, and successive developments in information and communication technology. Advanced technologies have proven their worth in supporting all dimensions of development, raising growth rates, increasing investment returns, reducing production costs, and enhancing public expenditure efficiency.

In the same context, El-Said noted that global and local technology platforms play a significant role in stimulating collaborative approaches, supporting administrative reform, improving the efficiency of government agencies, enhancing governance, and achieving internal and external stability.

Dr. Hala El-Said added that enhancing digital transformation is one of the fundamental enablers that help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as it works on establishing a flexible infrastructure for institutions to keep pace with technological revolution developments. It also enables continuous innovation and adaptation to rapid global changes and consumer requirements, contributing to reducing transaction costs, improving institutional governance, by separating service recipients from providers, ensuring service efficiency and effectiveness, enhancing transparency, and citizen trust levels.

She pointed out that the launch of the "KMT" system, representing an artificial intelligence-based chat platform, developed by the Central Agency for Organization and Administration and one of the emerging national companies specializing in information technology in Egypt with support from the Economic Governance project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The aim is to provide smart and advanced assistance using artificial intelligence technology to instantly respond to legal and administrative inquiries related to the Civil Service Law No. 81 of 2016, its executive regulations issued by the Prime Minister's Decision No. 1216 of 2017, periodic circulars, and related resolutions. She emphasized that the system contributes to leveraging technological development to serve public administration issues, in addition to saving time and effort by instantly responding to tens of thousands of questions, facilitating direct interaction with system users around the clock throughout the week.

El-Said commended the distinction of the "KMT" system as a pioneering experience in promoting governance and informational transparency principles and improving public services by providing access to reliable and accurate information for employees of the state administrative apparatus and citizens through the system's website, WhatsApp, and Facebook applications dedicated to the Central Agency for Organization and Administration, supporting the improvement of information services efficiency and enhancing customer satisfaction.

She explained that the launch of the "KMT" system comes in line with the Egyptian state's direction to support digital transformation, amidst the priority given by the state to the telecommunications and information technology sector as the most important pillars for stimulating technological progress, within a broader and more comprehensive approach defined by the state to achieve economic growth and sustainable development, through the updated Egypt Vision 2030, which identified seven enablers representing the necessary requirements and proposed tools for implementing policies, initiatives, and programs to ensure the effectiveness of achieving sustainable development and goals efficiently by 2030. The heart of which includes "achieving technological progress and innovation," "enhancing digital transformation," and "producing and providing data" to ensure the vision is smoothly and effectively achieved.

El-Said emphasized the state's belief in the close relationship between digital transformation and governance, as the state and all its institutions adopt a serious approach to achieve governance, raise institutional efficiency, and digital transformation as a means to improve the quality of services provided to citizens and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development. She noted that three priority productive sectors were identified for the National Structural Reform Program launched by the state in April 2021, targeting the transformation of the Egyptian economy to become a knowledge-based productive economy with competitive capabilities in the global economy, with one of the most prominent sectors being the communications and information technology sector. The axis of "enhancing the efficiency of public institutions through digital transformation and governance" was among the most supportive axes that interlock and intersect vertically and horizontally within the framework of the program.

Minister El-Said continued that this serious commitment by the state towards digital transformation aligns with the process of transitioning to the new administrative capital as a good opportunity to provide a modern digital environment. The state ensures that this transition is not merely a spatial shift but rather a transition and evolution in thinking and performance in line with modern management systems and methods that align with developments in this field. She explained that the relocation of government institutions to the new administrative capital represents a good opportunity for digital transformation, as it works to create a good working environment based on modern technology.

El-Said emphasized that the Egyptian state is expanding its digital transformation projects through the Spatial Information Infrastructure Integration Project, which ensures the launch of an integrated information system for national planning, monitoring, and evaluation using the latest technologies and advanced technology in satellite imaging and aerial imaging outputs to produce unified base maps for the state and spatial applications for various state sectors. This includes the development of services provided to citizens through the Mobile Technology Centers Development Project, which provides services for municipalities, health, and the National Social Insurance Authority, as well as technology centers in neighborhoods and cities, with more than 350 technology centers developed so far offering around 250 services at the level of governorate public offices and city and neighborhood centers, in addition to developing 276 mobile technology centers so far, with the number expected to reach 326 mobile centers by the end of next June.

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development added that in conjunction with these efforts, Egypt Services Centers were opened in Aswan in December 2022, Sharm El-Sheikh in May 2023, and Alexandria in July 2023. The foundation stone was laid for the Egypt Services Center in Arish, and preparations are underway for Egypt Services Centers in Cairo, Giza, and Gharbia, in addition to allocating sites to establish Egypt Services Centers in Suez, Ismailia, Port Said, Qalyubia, Beni Suef, and Sohag.

El-Said concluded by noting the relative importance change of a country's resources, where natural resources alone are no longer the decisive factor. Human resources, data, and information represent the basic elements for achieving development and progress efforts. Therefore, human resource training and qualification are of utmost priority, as they are the mainstay for creating a digital culture that helps citizens understand global technological advancements and apply modern technological methods in services for citizens. She explained that no country can progress and keep pace with global advancements isolated from digital transformation based on technology, which has reshaped many ordinary life aspects for individuals and business organizations, including communication, research, buying, selling, distribution, and even leisure time activities. Consequently, progress and the race against time cannot be achieved in isolation from technology.