Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

LEADERS' SUMMIT 2023 SAMENA TRENDS

“A sustainable digital of local talents that is proficient in the an international platform through which
university students from around the world
latest technologies and able to adapt to
economy will require new developments quickly. Governments can compete and share ideas with each
more than connectivity. and businesses must continue to invest other. The sixth Huawei ICT Competition,
in training and education programs to
held in 2022, attracted 150,000 university
Green ICT solutions must ensure that workers have the skills they students from 85 countries and regions.
also be prioritized. We need to succeed in the digital economy, he This month, finalists’ teams from seven
explained.
countries in the region will be in China to
must consider the envi- compete on a global level with their peers
ronmental impact as we Huawei has a long and proud history of from other countries in Huawei Global
collaboration with governments, academia
ICT Competition. “We look forward to
embrace technology and and industry to enrich the region's ICT inspiring more interest and engagement
extend digital networks. talent ecosystem. CSR initiatives such as in our ICT talent cultivation programs and
initiatives in the region to support the local
Seeds for the Future, the annual Huawei
We can protect the envi- ICT Competition, Huawei ICT Academy, governments in their strategies and visions
ronment and preserve joint innovation centers, labs and other on digital transformation and ICT talent
CSR initiatives empower thousands of Arab
ecosystem,” he added.
the digital economy youth annually to supercharge their ICT
by incorporating eco- careers. In the Middle East, Huawei has set “In 2023, we will continue to maintain
up 186 Huawei ICT Academies, and more
strategic focus and strengthen R&D
friendly and energy-effi- than 4,000 students have participated in investment. We will focus on creating
cient ICT infrastructure. the flagship program Seeds for the Future, greater value for our customers, partners,
while over 57,000 people have obtained
and society. Huawei remains open to
Furthermore, ICT will Huawei certification. We also have trained collaboration and is always looking to
also boost industry-wide over 150,000 ICT talents for the Middle join hands with outstanding researchers,
East and are committed to achieving more
developers, innovators and partners from
green practices.” in collaboration with our partners. around the world to address the biggest
challenges of our times,” stated Steven.
He highlighted that 5G/5.5G as the crucial “Over the last decades, we have put a lot
ICT connectivity technology can create of effort into creating social values for Steven described SAMENA Leaders’
tangible values toward a digital economy each country by creating hundreds and Summit as an enlightening and insightful
represented in many key outcomes such as thousands of job opportunities for the conference as it focuses on crucial pillars
reaching the top rate in internet access for local people, actively working with local of economic development, including
more social benefits, contributing to GDP, partners, and cultivating over 100,000 sustainable connectivity, ecosystems,
driving better economic growth and adding local ICT talents through our different and the digital economy. Reiterating the
new potentials to sustainability approach training certification programs. We will importance of connectivity, he closed his
and energy saving through 5G networks. continue working with our partners to keynote with a popular Chinese saying,
“A sustainable digital economy will bring pioneering new technologies to the ‘If you want to get rich, build roads
require more than connectivity. Green ICT region that will enrich people's lives with first’. “Building a strong connectivity
solutions must also be prioritized. We must immersive digital services and enable infrastructure is critical to the growth of the
consider the environmental impact as we smart solutions to accelerate the industry’s digital economy. Just as roads and bridges
embrace technology and extend digital digital transformation and related social are essential to the physical economy, a
networks. We can protect the environment value,” said Steven. robust connectivity infrastructure is the
and preserve the digital economy by foundation upon which the digital economy
incorporating eco-friendly and energy- Huawei’s training and certification is built,” Steven concluded.
efficient ICT infrastructure. Furthermore, programs serve as a major source of high-
ICT will also boost industry-wide green quality talent for industry digitalization. Huawei’s recent annual report
practices,” Steven added. It is estimated By the end of 2022, the global ICT leader demonstrated that the company continues
that adapting ICT-enabled digital solutions had established Huawei ICT Academies to strengthen investment in R&D, with an
will help reduce 20% of global carbon with more than 2,200 universities across annual expenditure of USD23.22 billion in
emissions by 2030. the globe. Through this program, the 2022, representing 25.1% of the company's
company trains an average of more than annual revenue and bringing its total R&D
He further elaborated that a sustainable 200,000 students each year. Furthermore, expenditure over the past 10 years to more
digital economy demands a large pool the Huawei ICT Competition provides than USD 140.55 billion.

24 MAY-JUNE 2023