Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications multinational, will establish a Research and Development Center in Angola by 2027 to strengthen digital inclusion and expand its presence in Africa, the company’s head for the Lusophone region said on Friday.
Hover Gao, Huawei’s president for the Sub-Saharan Africa region, spoke to the press after being received by Angolan President João Lourenço.
In statements to journalists, Huawei’s director-general for Lusophone countries, António Hou, said that the meeting addressed issues related to the multinational’s projects in Angola, emphasizing that the new center is part of its commitment to digital transformation and universal access to technology in Angola.
“We believe that technology should not be a privilege for a few. We will continue contributing so that Angola achieves universal internet access and the benefits of digital transformation,” António Hou said, quoted by Angop, Angola’s news agency.
He also mentioned that, besides reinforcing digital inclusion, the center will accelerate the development of strategic sectors such as education, health, and connectivity, promoting equitable access to new technologies.
António Hou noted that the location for the center is still under review, and the investment amount is yet to be defined, but the decision to proceed with the project has already been made.
“We inaugurated Huawei’s regional headquarters for all of Africa earlier this year, and this will be the second major initiative we implement,” he said.
The project includes, in addition to the technological infrastructure, partnerships with Angolan universities to train 7,000 talents in areas such as artificial intelligence, connectivity, and emerging technologies by 2027.
Source: Lusa
