TASHKENT, 18th August, 2024 (WAM) — Team Future Gadget Lab from Kuwait and Team Beyond Limits from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took first and second place respectively in the regional semi-finals of the fourth annual Tech4Good competition held in parallel with the Seeds for the Future 2024 program in Tashkent.
Huawei, in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, celebrated the culmination of the regional finals of the Seeds for the Future 2024 program with a grand awards ceremony in Tashkent.
The teams were recognised by the jury for their innovative use of technology to support stroke survivors with limited hand mobility. They will then compete in the final in China against qualified teams from around the world and explore the enormous potential of ICT to promote sustainable development.
Likewise, Team Nabeeh from Saudi Arabia, Team Sufun from Oman and Team AquaLucens from Bahrain were recognized for their outstanding projects. Amanzhan Sabyrgali, representing Kazakhstan, and Zainab Al Zaimoor, part of the Bahraini delegation, were chosen as the mentors’ favorites due to their skills, team spirit and positive influence on their teams during the competition.
The closing ceremony was also attended by Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Nausheen Adnan, Member of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Educational Reforms.
Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said: “The 2024 edition of the Huawei Seeds for the Future program is particularly meaningful as it marks both the 10th anniversary of the program in Uzbekistan and the 25th anniversary of Huawei’s operations in the country. We are grateful to our sponsor, the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for their passionate support and for allowing us to celebrate this momentous occasion in Uzbekistan. We are confident that this gathering has been instrumental in nurturing the region’s burgeoning ICT talents and empowering youth to drive digital innovation and shape the region’s sustainable future.”
Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said: “Huawei is a key contributor to Uzbekistan’s digital transformation. We are delighted to host the Seeds for the Future 2024 program as we firmly believe that skills-based development and industry experience are essential for students to drive innovation in the digital economy. We are grateful to Huawei for organizing such competitions and enabling students in our region to challenge themselves and learn from industry leaders. Initiatives like Seeds for the Future are critical to equipping our youth with industry knowledge and strengthening the ICT talent ecosystem in our region.”
Nausheen Adnan, Member of Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Educational Reforms, said: “It is truly inspiring to witness the talent and enthusiasm of these young minds representing their countries at the closing ceremony of the Seeds for the Future programme. I would like to express my gratitude to Huawei for providing our students with a platform to develop their ICT skills on a global scale. Programmes like these are crucial to educating students, nurturing the region’s talent and taking a giant step into the digital age.”
This year’s edition of the Seeds for the Future programme brought together 150 university students from 14 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including leading universities from countries such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. The week-long event saw participants develop their information and communications technologies (ICT) skills and work on global digital inclusion, while broadening their cultural understanding through a series of sessions, courses, competitions and cultural programmes.
The aim of the Tech4Good competition is to encourage and motivate young people to drive positive change in their communities. This unique platform encourages young people to address pressing social issues by harnessing the enormous potential of the latest ICT technologies.
As part of the program, students attended five days of intensive training and workshops in Tashkent covering cutting-edge ICT technologies, scientific and technological leadership, discussions on global issues, Tech4Good group projects, etc. Through learning and mutual exchange, participants gained a better understanding of 5G, AI and cloud technologies, built their strengths for future growth and improved their competitiveness in the labor market. Students also had the opportunity to visit and interact with professionals at Huawei and Artel, Central Asia’s leading electronics manufacturer and one of Uzbekistan’s largest companies.
Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program is the company’s flagship CSR initiative aimed at nurturing ICT talents worldwide. Since its launch in 2008, more than 18,000 students from 141 countries have participated. With the support of more than 360 senior officials and heads of state, the program has worked with over 500 universities and colleges to cultivate a new generation of ICT leaders and innovators.
