Mahmoud Mohieldin: AI is a Strategic Key to Growth for Emerging Economies

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, who is the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Chair of the Global Debt Crisis Expert Group, highlighted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a technical innovation. Instead, it has become a strategic economic and developmental technology, capable of reshaping growth paths in emerging economies. Speaking at a key session during the DisrupTech Sharm 2026 conference, focused on FinTech and Beyond, in Sharm El Sheikh, Mohieldin emphasized that global economic analyses show AI as one of the best opportunities to boost productivity and tackle slowing growth, especially in emerging markets looking for quick and cost-effective development leaps. He explained that combining FinTech with AI opens up new possibilities for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. This includes improving healthcare and education services, supporting environmental transformation, precision agriculture, and more efficient energy grid management. Regarding Egypt, he noted that the country ranks first in Africa and 51st globally according to the 2025 AI Government Readiness Index. While this shows significant institutional progress, challenges in computing power—scoring only 7.91—highlight the need to translate political readiness into scalable digital infrastructure.