Huawei, a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, has launched the fifth edition of ‘Seeds for the Future’ programme in Saudi Arabia.

The programme, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), will host 10 students from 10 different universities across the kingdom, said a statement.

The programme seeks to develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer, promote a greater understanding of and interest in the telecommunications sector, and to improve and encourage regional participation in the digital community, it said.

The launch ceremony was held at the headquarters of CITC in Riyadh in the presence of Engineer Majid Almazyad, deputy governor of CITC; Chen Weiqing, Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Ibrahem Alnasser, general manager of Digital Innovation Center at MCIT; and a senior executive for Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia Deng Lungang. 

Following the ceremony, the selected students visited Huawei’s innovation centre in Riyadh before flying to Beijing, China, for the knowledge-sharing programme.

Engineer Majid Almazyad, deputy governor of CITC, said: “We commend Huawei for its continued efforts in providing the youth of Saudi Arabia with the chance to expand their knowledge with one of the largest ICT providers in the world.”

“This is indeed a great experience that offers the opportunity of a lifetime to Saudi students,” he added.

Ibrahem Alnasser, general manager of Digital Innovation Center at MCIT, said: “Programmes like ‘Seeds for the Future’ are the cornerstone of building a digital world by developing the skills of a promising young generation and helping them to lead the development of our digital society.”

Chen Weiqing, Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “The programme underlines Huawei's commitment to support local communities. It aims to focus on the young generation future, nurture ICT local talents and build the ICT ecosystem in Saudi Arabia through working with government authorities, colleges and universities to identify, support and grow the future leaders of ICT to pursue their national agendas for digital transformation and achieve the ambitious targets of the kingdom 2030 vision.”

Deng Lungang, senior executive for Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia, said: “Huawei is committed to promoting ICT industry development in Saudi Arabia in line with the kingdom’s national visions, and aims to drive long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability.”

“Over the last decade, Huawei has been able to help address the digital talent gap by investing heavily in our Seeds for the Future flagship training programme,” Lungang added.

Launched by Huawei in 2008, Seeds for the Future is one of the company’s flagship training and CSR programmes. Through this programme, every year Huawei selects 1,000 students and young government officials working in ICT-related departments in 108 countries, for a study trip in Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
Over the course of the programme, Huawei shares its ICT expertise and experience with young ICT professionals, and helps fuel the development of local ICT industries.

Since inception, Huawei has cooperated with over 350 universities internationally, benefiting more than 30,000 students, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service