Chinese multinational technology company Huawei’s Rotating Chairman Mr. Guo Ping has highlighted that the critical role that information and communications technology (ICT) can play in driving socio-economic development in the Arab world and growing the region’s digital economy.
Mr. Ping made this statement during the 5th China-Arab States Expo, which explores cooperation opportunities between China and countries along the Belt and Road including Arab states in areas such as infrastructure, capacity cooperation, and so on.
The increased presence of digital infrastructure is positively impacting the Arab world. The GSMA expects the MENA region to spend $70 billion on telecom infrastructure between 2019 and 2025, according to Mr. Ping. The GSM Association (GSMA) is an industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide.
Guo Ping Rotating Chairman Huawei
“Connectivity and computing are becoming deeply integrated with all industries and are creating new value. The development of advanced ICT solutions is already proving to be an enabler of economic recovery following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. New digital applications are also helping to reduce carbon emissions in a variety of industries as per Arab nations’ wider developmental plans. Digital technologies have now become the cornerstone of the intelligent world—and the driver behind its future development in the region.”
Arab countries have been among the first to implement 5G infrastructure globally. The GCC area has been at the forefront of the implementation of 5G and other technologies that will enable the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Mr. Ping noted that technology adoption has a tremendous impact on industries such as education, healthcare, and transportation.
“To this end, Huawei is committed to knowledge exchange with partners across the Arab world, leveraging the latest technologies to contribute to their ambitious national visons. I sincerely hope that industry partners and policymakers in the region can collaborate in their efforts to accelerate the deployment of digital infrastructure. Together, we can build a more intelligent, interconnected, and low-carbon world,” Mr. Ping concluded.
