MANAMA: Held under the theme of 'Collaboration to Drive Innovations in the Arab World,' Huawei Arab Innovation Day 2021 witnessed landmark keynotes and discussions led by ministerial and senior leaders from the Arab governments, regional and international ICT organizations and high-level technology stakeholders from different verticals and industries.
The opening keynote was delivered by Catherine Chen, senior vice president and director of the board and president of Public Affairs and Communications at Huawei, who showcased that Huawei firmly believes in working together to create a better future for shared success, and that the company is keen to openly work with more partners to create a digital future of shared prosperity.
Huawei Arab Innovation Day 2021 set the regional agenda for driving digital transformation and the adoption and application of advanced technologies in the Arab world while reiterating the need for nurturing local ICT talent and robust cybersecurity measures.
Regional leaders also took the opportunity to shed light on the advantages of integrating technologies like 5G, Cloud and AI in the development of verticals, key industries, businesses and services, sharing best practices, challenges and solutions. Government leaders from across the Arab world underlined the crucial role of ICT technologies in supporting their states’ ambitious national plans and visions.
Steven Yi, President for the Middle East at Huawei, said: "In the Arab region, digital technologies have ushered historical transformation and enabled the Arab leaders to diversify and strengthen economies. ICT technologies are at the core of many Arab states’ national agendas and visions, and we're honoured to provide an unparalleled platform that inspired collaboration to drive the next phase of socio-economic growth in the Arab world, driven by ICT innovations."
The day-long event focused on three key themes – digital transformation, ICT for education and talent development, and cybersecurity. The first panel discussion moderated by Toni Eid, CEO of Trace Media and Founder of Telecom Review on "ICT Innovation to Drive Digital Transformation in the Arab World" witnessed esteemed speakers discussing some of the challenges faced in the digital transformation journey, particularly in light of the pandemic influence, and how the ICT industry can contribute towards digitalisation and collaboration for future success.
The panelists included Adel Darwish, Regional Director of ITU, Dr Ammar Alhusaini, Deputy Director-General of the Central Agency for Information and Technology, Kuwait, Dr Jassim Haji, President of International Group of Artificial Intelligence, Dr Fahem Al Nuaimi, CEO of Ankabut, and Ghazi Atallah, CEO of NXN (neXgen group).
Alongside the event, Huawei also highlighted how it is leveraging cutting-edge capabilities, expertise, and technology to support developers. The tech giant provides workshops, training, and certifications to developers, students, and startup communities. In its annual global competition, the Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP), developers are offered $1 million in cash prizes – with various categories of choice to enter, such as the Best Social Impact App and Excellent Student Award. These initiatives by Huawei have successfully demonstrated the potential of tech to positively impact communities and the need to empower developers, students, and startups alike. This falls in line with Huawei’s commitment to bringing digital to every person and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.
Huawei has also been enabling the next generation of developers and students through hands-on, real-life experience by providing online courses, training teacher resources, activities and onsite open labs. One such initiative is Huawei Student Developers (HSD), which is a community group for college and university students interested in Huawei technologies, where they can familiarize themselves with cutting-edge technologies and obtain knowledge and experience through hands-on practice. HSD empowers students to expand their scope of knowledge in a dynamic peer-to-peer learning environment.
The tech giant also announced the launch of the Huawei HMS Certificate Program which aims to boost developers' employability and expand their digital skills. Interested developers and students can apply for the certificate in three easy steps on this link: https://bit.ly/3DT4eRw
Huawei Arab Innovation Day 2021 took place at Al Multaqa Ballroom, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, on the sidelines of GITEX Global.
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