Page 49 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

security in 11 countries. “Agriculture is access to markets, high cost of finance, of technology and driving agricultural
a priority area of investment for us, not low-yielding seeds and farm inputs, which transformation,” says Vinay Vutukuru,
only because of the enormous number of leads to lower levels of productivity. For Senior Agriculture Specialist, World Bank.
livelihoods it supports and the economic this reason, the One Million Farmers “Meaningfully transforming agriculture
growth it drives, but also because it has a Platform is prioritizing digital solutions in requires a full ecosystem effort, and we
high potential to be a data driven sector,” extension, financial services, markets and look forward to developing this ecosystem
says Amrote Abdella, Regional Director data-driven applications, helping Africa with partners like Microsoft.” In addition
of Microsoft 4Afrika. “With an expanding to capture the current US$300 billion food to its partnerships with AGRA and the
population, there’s an opportunity to use market, which is projected to be worth $1 World Bank, Microsoft’s investments in
technology to improve farm productivity, trillion by 2030. The One Million Farmers agriculture include its FarmBeats project,
optimize resource use and increase crop Platform will be working with the Ministry which is using is low-cost sensors,
yields to combat rising food insecurity. of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries drones and machine learning algorithms
We’re fully committed to supporting and Irrigation, and 16 counties across to support data-driven, precision farming.
agricultural transformation starting in Kenya, to ensure its success. Microsoft Previous winners of its AI for Earth grants
Kenya – and the rest of Africa – and more 4Afrika has committed to supporting in Africa include SunCulture, DHI Group
critically, the innovators who are key drivers these participating governments with and the International Centre for Tropical
of this digital transformation.” According technical skills development, both through Agriculture, who are all using artificial
to AGRA, smallholder farmers currently workshops and by skilled resources intelligence to address food security
make up 70 percent of sub-Saharan through its programmes. “We’re excited to and nutrition in Africa. Finally, through
Africa’s population, contributing some have partners pledge their support to this the 4Afrika Initiative, Microsoft has also
90 percent of food production. However, initiative. Through combined networks, we provided technical support to agri-tech
these famers are not currently reaching hope to synergize investments at national start-ups locally and across the continent.
their full potential, challenged by limited and county level, accelerating the adoption

Microsoft Brings Message of ‘Trust, Transform, Innovate – For the Future of
Egypt’ at Cairo ICT 2019

Microsoft Egypt announced its four-day event, Microsoft will demonstrate how new threats mean new rules, which
participation in the 23rd Cairo ICT, how its intelligent cloud and AI tools can require new tools and new allies. At the
Egypt’s largest technology trade and be leveraged to deliver state-of-the-art company’s stand, delegates will witness
networking event, scheduled to run solutions to the healthcare industry that first-hand how Microsoft’s cloud-powered,
from 1 to 4 December at the Egypt allow caregivers and medical professionals intelligent security solutions help to protect
International Exhibition Centre (EIEC). to better serve patients. Additionally, users, data and everything in between.
Microsoft’s attendance at Cairo ICT 2019 Microsoft will demonstrate its latest smart Microsoft will also highlight its work
will follow the theme of “Trust, Transform agriculture solutions, using AI to promote with the Egyptian government through
and Innovate – for the future of Egypt”, water-saving practices and smart farming. “Digital Transformation in Citizen Service”,
reflecting the company’s commitment to Experts at the Microsoft stand during Cairo showcasing the power of Microsoft’s
empower Egypt’s people, businesses and ICT, will also highlight several innovative ecosystem in serving the Egyptian citizens.
government to achieve more. Microsoft Internet of Things use cases in the areas of Also present at Microsoft’s stand will
has been a strategic partner of Cairo ICT accessibility, cognitive services, industrial be several global and regional partners,
since the event’s 1996 debut and the IoT and IoT-ready devices. visitors will demonstrating their own solutions and
company’s involvement has consistently experience how they can easily transform customer case studies. These include
mirrored its dedication to Egypt’s long- customer engagement by building AI- Citrix, Atos, VeriPark, Link Development,
term economic ambitions, now formalised ready business apps for their teams. HITS Solutions, Link Data Center, IPMagiX,
in the country’s Sustainable Development Addressing the region’s elevated concerns Global Brands and PROART Consulting.
Strategy (SDS), also known as Vision 2030. over cybersecurity, Microsoft will show
“The Egypt Vision 2030 is a cornerstone
for the country’s development to pave
the way for economic, cultural and social
prosperity.” said Mohamad El Hawary,
Marketing and Operations Lead, Microsoft
Middle East. “We believe technology can
be at the heart of this effort. Our presence
at the Cairo ICT will reiterate Microsoft’s
commitment to further this vision by driving
digital transformation in the country, and
empower everyone to achieve more”. At the
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