The Huawei Connect event, now in its eighth iteration, was inaugurated in Shanghai, unfolding from September 20-22, and signifying its inaugural occasion post-global health turmoil.
The 2021 event casts a spotlight on Artificial Intelligence (AI), mirroring Huawei’s principal emphasis on the African domain. On September 20, during the Huawei Northern Africa Night, Terry HE, the regional President for Huawei in Northern Africa, unveiled a refreshed strategy with a vision to navigate Africa toward a “smart and connected future.”
Entitled “Accelerate Intelligence for New Africa,” the strategy stands as more than a straightforward roadmap – it is an encompassing plan targeting Africa’s technological and digital horizon.
Acknowledging Africa’s youthful demographic, where 60% are under 25, the digital transformation is surfacing as a substantial engine for the continent’s developmental trajectory.
Moreover, with Africa’s remarkable potential in green energy, a unique competitive edge in the epoch of AI is discernible. In light of these advantages, Huawei’s latest strategy intertwines smart technologies, especially AI, into crucial sectors that permeate and mould the daily experiences of Africans, spanning health, education, transport, finance, agriculture, and mining.
An impressive five-year financial endeavor of $430 million has been outlined, with allocations of $200 million for the erection of the area’s inaugural public cloud center, which will proffer upwards of 200 cloud services. Another $200 million will be channelized to buttress 200 local software allies and bolster 1,300 channel partners.
For nurturing talent, an investment of $30 million is destined to facilitate the training of 10,000 local developers and the education of an additional 100,000 digital professionals, thereby crafting a competent workforce to propel intelligent transformation across the region.
“Every technological evolution is characterized by perseverance, exploration, and investment”, stated Terry HE, President of Huawei Northern Africa (North, West & Central Africa).
He added, “To expedite intelligent transformation in Northern Africa, Huawei will intensify its investments in technologies, ecosystems, and talent.”
The president stressed the critical importance of close collaboration among governments, businesses, educational institutions, and communities to realize these ambitions.
In conclusion, he called for united action, stating, “Let’s join forces to usher in a smarter world in Africa and fulfill the aspirations of its people.”
