Huawei calls for promoting Africa’s digital economy by building a better connected Africa

[Pretoria, South Africa, Dec 4, 2015]Huawei has called for enhanced cooperation between China and Africa in building a better connected world to promote the digital economy in Africa. As the only representative from the Telecom industry present at the 5th Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, a side event of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Huawei expressed its continued efforts to building a better connected Africa.

During his address at the event, Charles Ding, Senior Vice President of Huawei, said, "Huawei has been focused on building a better connected Africa for 17 years. We continuously leverage our global innovation capabilities and cooperate with governments, customers, and industrial partners to increase the telecom network coverage significantly to achieve a win-win cooperation. We’ve deployed more than 50% of wireless base stations, over 70% of LTE networks and at least 50,000KM of optical fiber to provide better telecom connectivity to Africa Connectivity is the cornerstone to the development of digital economy in Africa. "

Charles Ding, Senior Vice President of Huawei, speaks at FOCAC

Ding continued to say that, “ICT talent is the key to develop the digital economy. As a long-term investor in Africa, Huawei leverages its 7 training centers in Africa to transfer ICT knowledge. So far, we’ve trained over 30,000 ICT professionals in Africa. We also launched our “Seeds for the Future” CSR program in Africa. Through this program, we work with local governments and universities to send students abroad, to get work experience and training at our Huawei headquarters. The program has been rolled out in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, and we plan to implement it in more countries in Africa. In the next 5 years, more than 1000 students from Africa will have benefited from this ICT talent cultivation program. “

During the conference, Ding highlighted how advanced ICT infrastructure can contribute positively to a country's GDP : "According to the Global Connectivity Index, and research conducted by Huawei, the construction of ICT infrastructure is critical for a country’s competitiveness. A 20% increase in ICT investment will grow a country's GDP by 1%." Ding concluded his address by saying that, "Huawei looks forward to working together with governments, industrial partners, and enterprises in Africa and China, to build a better connected Africa, ensuring that the digital economy becomes the bridge of friendship that connects China and Africa."

FOCAC will be held in Pretoria and Johannesburg from December 2-5. During the Forum, Huawei will focus on topics ranging from: Investment in ICT, and strengthening cooperation between China and Africa. Huawei will also showcase a series of world-leading ICT solutions including smart city, digital transportation, Internet of Things, etc at the Equipment Manufacturing Industry Show at FOCAC,. As a major telecom technologies provider in South Africa, Huawei has also partnered with telecom operators in South Africa to provide excellent telecom network services and support at all FOCAC venues.