Beijing, China – 22 June 2016: An AUC delegation led by the Deputy Chairperson H.E. Erastus Mwencha met with Huawei’s Senior Vice-President Dr. Gong Yuanxing in Beijing to exchange views on methodologies that would further strengthen Africa’s ICT development and industrialisation strategy whilst concretising Huawei’s investment within the Continent. In line with the “Seeds for the Future” programme initiated in January 2015, the two parties also met the second batch of AU ICT trainees currently in China, assessed outcomes and exchanged views on how to improve the programme.

Welcoming the delegation, Vice President Dong highlighted the undeniable fact that “ICT has become a driving force that can significantly boost the socio-economic growth of the African Continent. Huawei is poised to further expand its support towards Africa’s ICT development plans and drive its ICT industrilisation process forward. We are also committed to cultivating ICT talent within the Continent through programmes such as Seeds for the Future”.

H.E. Erastus Mwencha thanked Huawei for their continued commitment to capacity building within the Continent and expressed his appreciation towards the effective collaboration witnessed since the signature of the Memorundum of Understanding in January 2015. Acknowledging the continuous investments undertaken within AU Member States, the Deputy Chairperson appreciated Huawei’s confidence in the African Continent. He further expressed the need to increase research and development cooperation as well as the need to develop concrete industrilisation opportunities that would involve Africa’s youth and allow Africa to take its rightful place in the ICT industry chain in line with Agenda 2063.

With 24 offices throughout Africa and presence in all 54 Member States, Huawei Africa employs 7000 people of which 70% are locally recruited. The Vice President assured the delegation of Huawei’s intentions to drastically boost investment in the Continent in the coming years and highlighted the need to actively involve local partners to ensure sustainability and achieve a win-win situation.

The second batch of ICT trainees selected from various Departments of the AUC to take part in the ongoing two weeks capacity building programme shared their experiences with the delegation. The meeting discussed ways to maximize on this opportunity and ensure effective collaboration between the AU and Huawei in future capacity building activities.

Led by the Deputy Chairperson, the AUC delegation was composed of the Human Resources, Science and Technology HRST ICT Division Head Mr. Moctar Yedali, the African Capacity Building Foundation Executive Secretary Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, Ambassador Fantahun Haile Michael and the Directorate of Information and Communications Ag. Director Ms Esther Tankou.