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Zawya
44 minutes ago
- Zawya
The transformative power of AI to create jobs in Africa
Mastercard's latest whitepaper, Harnessing the transformative power of AI in Africa, demonstrates AI's potential to drive financial inclusion, job creation and innovation as it highlights how Africa's unique demographics, mobile-first infrastructure and entrepreneurial spirit position it as an active architect of the future. The whitepaper is a pan-African study of the continent's readiness, opportunity and roadmap for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. It provides detailed insights into how AI—if deployed responsibly and inclusively—can unlock transformative outcomes across the continent's major industries, including agriculture, healthcare, education, energy and finance. The whitepaper outlines the potential positive impact of AI on digital infrastructure, policy and governance, research and development, local language processing and investment into Africa. It also explores how AI can accelerate job creation, with up to 230 million digital jobs projected by 2030, and increase access to formal finance through AI-enabled credit scoring and fraud prevention. Reshaping lives With Africa's AI market projected to grow from $4.5bn in 2025 to $16.5bn by 2030, according to a recent report from Statista, the paper presents a clear case for multi-stakeholder collaboration and investment. Mark Elliott, division president, Africa at Mastercard, comments that Africa's engagement with AI is already reshaping lives — not just in labs, but in farms, clinics and classrooms. 'To unlock its full potential, we need investment in infrastructure, data, talent, and policy. At Mastercard, we believe responsible, locally rooted AI can drive inclusive growth and connect more people to opportunity.' Greg Ulrich, chief AI and data officer, Mastercard, adds, 'AI is only as powerful as the trust behind it. At Mastercard, we're committed to building AI that's responsible, inclusive, and built to bring value to our customers, partners and employees. 'This isn't just innovation—it's innovation with integrity.' Regional highlights Regional highlights covered in the whitepaper include: - South Africa South Africa attracted $610m in AI-focused venture capital in 2023, with total AI investment expected to reach $3.7bn by 2030. With the highest data and infrastructure readiness in Africa, the country is solidifying its role as a continental leader in AI research and application. It is home to the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Afri,ca which serves as a gateway for students and professionals to access world-class education, research and industry news. National plans aim to develop up to 300 AI start-ups and train 5,000 AI professionals by 2030, creating the foundation for a vibrant, homegrown AI ecosystem. - Kenya An emerging leader in AI innovation, Kenya has leveraged its 'Silicon Savannah' status to securely deploy AI across sectors. Platforms like Tala use mobile data for credit scoring, while Jacaranda Health's UlizaLlama, an AI-powered chatbot, provides maternal health support in five local languages. The newly launched National AI Strategy (2025–2030) outlines the government's commitment to positioning Kenya as a regional leader in AI research and development, innovation and commercialisation for socioeconomic development. - Nigeria Nigeria ranks second in the number of AI startups in Africa and secured $218m in VC investment in 2023. As one of Africa's most dynamic AI ecosystems, Nigeria is using AI to personalise learning (Rising Academies), deliver microfinance via and strengthen governance with AI tools that monitor public fund allocation. With a $1.4bn projected AI market size by 2025, the government's proactive approach, combined with growing private-sector innovation, suggests promising growth in AI applications. - Morocco An emerging AI hub in North Africa, Morocco is advancing AI adoption across healthcare, energy, agriculture, and finance. Institutions such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and DeepEcho are driving local innovation, while the MoroccoAI Annual Conference is shaping national dialogue on the future of AI. Under its Digital 2030 strategy, Morocco aims to attract $ 1.1bn in investment and create 240,000 digital jobs by 2030. Despite this progress, the whitepaper warns that data fragmentation, language exclusion and regulatory inconsistency could deepen the digital divide. Unlocking AI's full impact Harnessing the potential of AI in Africa will be instrumental in accelerating financial inclusion and driving the continent's digital and economic growth. Strategic collaborations between governments, fintechs, and global partners will be key to unlocking AI's full impact. Mastercard's whitepaper draws on insights from leading African technologists, policymakers, academics and entrepreneurs, including interviews with UnescO, the African Center for Economic Transformation, and fintech leaders across the region. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Gulf Business
an hour ago
- Gulf Business
Cartex appoints former Tata Communications executive as new COO
Cartex, a fast-growing fintech specialising in global payment solutions, has named Deepak Gusain as chief operating officer. Bringing over two decades of cross-sector experience in global digital infrastructure, Gusain will lead the execution of Cartex's long-term growth strategy spanning financial services, embedded ecosystems, and digital commerce. In his new role, Gusain will oversee the scaling of Cartex's core business lines, including card issuing, payment gateway infrastructure, telecom services, anti-fraud systems, and embedded financial tools. His mandate includes expanding the company's multi-sector ecosystem to enable cross-border commerce, digital connectivity, and financial inclusion across markets in the GCC, Europe, India, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining Cartex, Gusain spent 17 years at Tata Communications in senior leadership roles, driving large-scale digital transformation programmes and building strategic partnerships across telecom, aviation, manufacturing, government, and media sectors. Recognised for his customer-first approach, he has led several first-of-their-kind initiatives, onboarding complex enterprise clients globally while delivering consistent growth and operational resilience. 'Cartex is building the operating backbone for the digital economy – where fintech and telecom converge to drive real-world impact,' said Deepak Gusain. 'I am excited to scale this vision forward by developing regionally anchored teams, enabling scalable infrastructure, and building partnerships that unlock value for our clients and users worldwide.' Cartex's roadmap focuses on deepening B2B and B2C integration across e-commerce, embedded finance, and the creator economy. The company is investing in vertical-specific solutions that merge payments with connectivity—ranging from virtual cards for travel and creator platforms to enterprise-grade telecom services for sectors such as financial services, travel tech, and hospitality. Under Gusain's leadership, Cartex aims to drive both organic and inorganic growth, including strategic M&A, while strengthening its partner ecosystem and go-to-market execution across regions.


Arabian Business
2 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi attracts 13 cutting-edge AI start-ups to Hub71 in global tech push
Abu Dhabi is cementing its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), driven by world-class infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment climate. The emirate's flagship global tech ecosystem, Hub71, attracted 13 new AI-focused start-ups in the first half of 2025, bringing its total to 53 companies specialising in AI innovation. The latest cohort represents top entrepreneurial talent from around the world, underscoring Abu Dhabi's appeal as a destination for high-value tech investment. AI firms in Abu Dhabi Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, saidthe platform plays a critical role in scaling these businesses by offering mentorship, facilitating market access, and creating pathways for global expansion. As these companies grow, he said, they generate high-quality jobs, drive knowledge exchange, and support strategic sectors. This reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The new AI-driven start-ups joining Hub71 in 2025 are: Aurem CambioML Fundbot Technologies Mithry New Path Bio Nodeshift Onloop Redbrick Simpleem Skipr Vivan Therapeutics xMap Vaxo With AI adoption accelerating worldwide, the emirate's continued success in attracting and nurturing cutting-edge tech firms positions it at the forefront of the global digital economy.