China’s technological rise is opening new avenues for the digital transformation of developing countries, says Abdel‑Wahab Ghoneim, vice‑president of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy and a digital transformation advisor to the Egyptian government. In a recent interview, he highlighted China’s growing role in applied research, smart technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), and the concrete lessons these advances can offer economies such as Egypt’s.
Why China’s technological ascent is drawing attention
Ghoneim identifies three key drivers behind this rise: a tight coupling between scientific research and industry, the large‑scale deployment of advanced technologies (AI, high‑performance computing, semiconductors), and structured state support for research, manufacturing and investment. Together, he argues, these factors explain why “a large share of serious scientific research today comes from China,” particularly in AI applications.
Batteries and electric vehicles: a signal for developing countries
China’s recognition of work on lithium batteries—honored among national science and technology awards—can be read as a strategic signal. Ghoneim emphasizes that batteries have become “the backbone of sustainable development,” essential for storing solar and wind energy and for the growth of electric vehicles (EVs). The evolution of China’s electric vehicle industry, from catching up to global leadership, serves as both a model and an opportunity for industrial cooperation.
Concrete opportunities for Egypt
Ghoneim outlines practical avenues: attracting Chinese chipmakers and electronic-equipment manufacturers to set up factories in Egypt by offering competitive incentives. He also points to local resources that could interest advanced industries, notably deposits of high‑purity silica sand and mineral‑rich black sand—materials required by certain manufacturing supply chains.
Bilateral projects already in place
Ghoneim cites existing Egypt‑China collaborations that reflect technological trust: a government data and cloud computing center, Huawei’s cooperation on 5G in Egypt’s new administrative capital, and the China‑Egypt TEDA economic and trade cooperation zone on the Suez Canal. These projects, he says, provide a foundation for expanding industrial and research partnerships.
Training and AI governance: international initiatives
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