News: Huawei joins AU to drive digital transformation in Africa

Addis Abeba, November 30/3027 – World telecom giant Huawei announces it has joined the African Union (AU) to drive the continent’s  digital transformation. The announcement was made during the Second Ordinary Session of AU’s Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Communication and ICT (CCICT-2), which kicked-off on Monday, November 20-24th  at the AU headquarters in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.

The main objective of the CCICT2 was to review implementation of projects, adopt strategies and action plans for the implementation of projects and programs at the continental and regional levels for the communication and ICT sectors. “The partnership with AU is one of Huawei’s efforts to drive digital transformation in Africa,” according to a statement received by Addis Standard.

Getechew Negash, Chairman of the specialized committee

During the meeting, Ethiopia was elected as chair of the STC. Getechew Negash, Chairman of the specialized committee representative  thanked the ministers for electing Ethiopia as well as the Huawei and the Chinese government for the participation. The statement from Huawei said the company “has contributed a lot in the ICT sector regionally.”

Mark Xue, Vice President of Huawei on his part said: “Today, the development of  ICT and its applications, has penetrated into all aspects of human society, and is driving the world’s economic and social development.” He further said that the company’s “aim is to enable full connectivity between people, between people and things, and between things. With our expertise in the information and communications area and Africa’s ICT industry , we will continue to support the efforts of the AU to build a better-connected Africa in strengthening local infrastructure and ICT industry.”  Through this opportunity and effective platform along with all stakeholders, Huawei will dedicate its full potential to “help African countries striving for industrialization and modernization by promoting the digital economy and improving global competitiveness.”

The meeting also discussed in its sessions AU’s ongoing programs and projects, cybersecurity (AUC+ISOC), DotAfrica as well as an action plan for sustainable development of the postal sector in Africa.

The Specialized Technical Committees (STCs), which constitutes an important technical organ of the African Union (AU), were established under Article 25 of the African Economic Community Treaty (the Abuja Treaty).

The STCs are expected to work in close collaboration with the various departments of the AU Commission (AUC) so as to provide well-informed inputs in their areas of specialization to the work of the Executive Council, according to the statement. AS