Huawei announced on the 31st that it hosted the “Digital Talent Summit 2024” in Nanning, China, in collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). The event brought together over 130 young talents from 18 countries, including government officials like the ASEAN Secretary-General, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia, and the Permanent Secretary of Brunei’s Ministry of Education. They discussed the current and future landscape of nurturing digital talent.
In his opening remarks, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stated, “The partnership between Huawei and the ASEAN Foundation illustrates the significant impact public-private partnerships can have on enhancing digital skills among Asia-Pacific youth.” He expressed confidence that this summit would play a meaningful role in uncovering the digital potential of the Asia-Pacific region and promoting innovation for a sustainable and inclusive digital future.
Simon Lin, President of Huawei Asia-Pacific, emphasized the three core elements of the region’s digital talent program: partnership, commitment, and youth empowerment. He mentioned that Huawei is dedicated to nurturing over 200,000 digital talents in more than 310 universities, aiming to cultivate future leaders of the Asia-Pacific digital economy, and will continue to build a larger stage for young talents in collaboration with partners.
Derry Aman, Chairman of the ASEAN Foundation Board of Trustees, highlighted the importance of investing in youth as the key to unlocking digital potential not only in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region but across the globe.
Additionally, Huawei announced the launch of the “PSU ICT Talent Development and Innovation Center” in partnership with Songkhla University (PSU) in Thailand, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative aims to develop 80,000 certified engineers and train 1,500 Huawei-certified ICT experts (HCIE) over the next five years. During a panel discussion themed “Connecting the Future: Enhancing Digital Skills for Success,” chaired by Thapchai Supnithi, Vice President of the Thai AI Association, participants, including SEAMEO and PSU representatives and the Seeds for the Future Global Ambassadors, engaged in in-depth discussions on bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusivity.
From Korea, seven university students from Ewha Womans University, Hanyang University, and Dongguk University were selected to participate in the summit as part of Huawei’s CSR initiative, “Seeds for the Future.” Notably, the Korean participants reached the semifinals in a “Tech4Good” project that proposed technological solutions to social issues during the summit. They also participated in a cultural exchange event, “Global Village,” and were chosen as the second most entertaining booth, receiving enthusiastic responses.
Eric Du, Vice President of External Relations and Public Relations at Huawei Korea, expressed his delight, stating, “I am pleased that the Korean participants selected through the ‘Seeds for the Future’ program had such a meaningful and enriching experience. We will continue our efforts to advance the Korean ICT industry and nurture digital talent, while fulfilling Huawei’s social responsibilities.”