Page 12 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council On

Cross-Regional Knowledge Exchange &
Cooperation-Building

At Global AI Summit on Africa, SAMENA Council Reinforces Its Commitment
to Building Inclusive Digital Economies through Cross-Regional Knowledge

Exchange and Cooperation-Building among Private & Government Entities

SAMENA Telecommunications Council, a and resilience. One of the key areas that the creation of impactful partnerships
key regional advocacy organization with SAMENA Council drew attention to, was among the Private Sector and Government
the aim to support digital transformation the critical need to scale AI talent across bodies to ensure equitable access to digital
across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Africa. With a significant number of tech technology and innovation across the
as well as neighboring regions, contributed graduates leaving the continent annually SA-ME-NA region and regions of similar
key insights during the inaugural Global AI and a projected shortage of AI specialists, profiles. As Africa takes significant steps
Summit on Africa, held in Kigali, Rwanda on SAMENA Council reiterated the importance toward embracing AI, SAMENA Council
April 3-5. Through its presence at the of developing localized strategies to both believes, tremendous potential exists to
Summit, SAMENA Council reinforced its retain talent and build sustainable talent facilitate new partnerships among the
ongoing efforts to advocate key pipelines. SAMENA Council also reiterate private sector as well as among
requirements for building a sustainable the need to develop Africa’s own AI models, governments. Several of SAMENA Council’s
digital ecosystem in the developing world, with Africa’s unique experiences, needs, members have direct interest in Africa, and
with a particular focus on the role of and aspirations in mind. Furthermore, this includes Telecom Operators as well as
artificial intelligence (AI) in driving SAMENA Council also opined that all technology companies and providers of
sustainable development. Bocar BA, countries should aim to develop their own super apps. The Council’s ongoing
SAMENA Council’s CEO and representative AI models, best suited to match their own advocacy work will continue to play a key
at the Kigali AI Summit, highlighted Africa’s ground realities and development profiles. role in enabling knowledge and experience-
unique position in the global AI landscape. SAMENA Council’s continued engagement exchange, and to address issues in digital
"Africa now stands at the center of the in the African digital transformation journey development, which range from
digital transformation efforts in the is in alignment with its Operator members infrastructure funding to now development
developing world," he said. "With the need for market assessment, exploring of artificial-intelligence. African nations
continent’s largest youth demographic and new opportunities, building cross-border need to timely harness AI to address their
a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, cooperation and synergies, and to its unique socio-economic and developmental
Africa has unparalleled potential to lead the broader mission of helping in building challenges as well as create opportunities
AI revolution. But to do so, it must first build digital economies that empower regions to in education, healthcare, agriculture,
a foundation of trust, investment, and talent thrive in the global digital economy. The infrastructure development, and overall
that reflects local realities and serves the Council remains committed to fostering planning.
needs of its diverse markets." SAMENA
Council has long been at the forefront of
advocating collaborative development
across the digital space, and this
participation is a natural extension of its
mission to support digital economies,
including in Africa. BA discussed the
importance of prioritizing AI capabilities
that are both scalable and locally relevant,
such as building secure communication
and computing infrastructure, developing
multilingual AI models, and expanding
AI-driven public service platforms. He
emphasized that these efforts must be
collaborative, drawing on both regional and
global partnerships to ensure inclusivity

12 MAY 2025