Huawei has recently hosted HUAWEI CONNECT for the very first time in Dubai, UAE, discussing key themes to help propel the digital economy. Under the theme “Unleash Digital”, more than 3,000 industry stakeholders gathered as representatives from Huawei and other organizations shared their latest digitalization practices, exploring new paths to industrial digital transformation.
Huawei’s annual flagship event for the global ICT industry, HUAWEI CONNECT 2022 also explored the opportunities in industry digitalization, and how digital technologies like cloud, AI, and 5G can be practically applied in different industry scenarios to fully unleash their value.
Delivering the opening keynote, Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, outlined three ways the ICT ecosystem can help break through common barriers in digital transformation:
- Boost digital infrastructure, including more robust connectivity and stronger, more diverse computing resources.
- Help organizations go beyond simple cloud adoption and truly make the most of cloud, focusing on advanced technology services that drive leapfrog development.
- Build out local digital ecosystems including partner development, strengthening the digital talent pool, and providing more support for SMEs.
Steven Yi, President of Huawei Middle East & Africa also addressed the audience, reaffirming Huawei’s commitment to contributing to local development. He also shared three key initiatives of Huawei, its customers and partners, to unleash digital productivity. Together, they work to build a solid digital foundation for all and reinforce local digital ecosystems to support the future of digital nations.
During HUAWEI CONNECT Dubai, the company also hosed an exclusive media roundtable, which tackled topics such as how to build a national digital foundation that can focus on emergency response, online education, smart public services, and more. Alaa Elshimy – MD and SVP Enterprise BG, Huawei Middle East, Mr. Koh Hong Eng, Global Chief Public Sector Scientist, Huawei, and Sheldon Wang-Director of Digital Government, Huawei, addressed media members during this session.
Speaking to TELETIMES INTERNATIONAL during the roundtable, Alaa Elshimy – MD and SVP Enterprise BG, Huawei Middle East, commented: “Huawei is bringing its HUAWEI CONNECT series of global events to Dubai for the first time this year, bringing its global expertise to benefit customers and partners and help them unleash digital productivity.”
He further added that the company is working closely with the UAE government to bring technological advances to even more industries and create new value by helping governments and enterprises in UAE and the wider region go digital while operating more intelligently and achieving sustainability.
“Huawei partnered with the Entrepreneurial Nation to launch the ‘ScaleUp Digitize’ program to enable startups and SMEs in the UAE to enhance their digital infrastructure by adopting cloud technologies and services,” said Elshimy.
Noting Huawei’s contribution to the UAE’s vision, Elshimy further stated that Huawei launched its first cloud region in the UAE last year, bringing the HUAWEI CLOUD services closer to Middle East customers while addressing data retention laws for regulated industries.
Huawei has also been active in the cybersecurity space, noted Elshimy, adding that the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Council (NCSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Huawei earlier this year to collaborate in strengthening local cybersecurity strategies and efforts. As per the memorandum, both parties will work towards strengthening strategic collaboration in cybersecurity based on the Public-Private-Partnership model. Both parties also agreed to jointly establish a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to deliver talent training that addresses the cybersecurity capacity-building needs for Emiratization.
Touching upon Huawei’s strides in narrowing the talent gap in the UAE, Elshimy said, “Huawei has partnered with leading universities and colleges on various CSR initiatives, including ICT Academy, ICT Competition, and Seeds for the Future, among others. We are promoting collaboration between public and private sector entities, educators, and technology companies to develop talent through these initiatives.”
During the exclusive media roundtable, Huawei unveiled and shared insights from a whitepaper on the public service infrastructure, which addressed the pain points of digital transformation of governments and ministries.
At HUAWEI CONNECT, Huawei also announced the Huawei Empower Program, which aims to help develop a thriving digital ecosystem for global partners. Through this program, Huawei will conduct joint innovation with its partners via OpenLabs, empower partners with a new framework, a new plan, and an integrated platform, and create a talent pool through the Huawei ICT Academy and Huawei Authorized Learning Partner (HALP) programs.
