PCFC and Government of Ghana Sign MoU to Establish an Economic Zone & Digital Incubator in Accra
Samuel Nartey George: This partnership will position Ghana as a regional hub for technological advancement in Africa
The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and Government of Ghana have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Ghana's first economic zone and digital incubator in Accra. The initiative aims to accelerate the country's transformation into a regional technology powerhouse, attracting investment into West Africa.
The MoU was signed by H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of PCFC, and Hon. Samuel Nartey George, Ghana's Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation.
Under the agreement, a 25 square kilometer area in Accra will be allocated to PCFC for the development of the economic zone. PCFC will lead the zone's operations and attract global technology firms, facilitating investment and business expansion. The MoU also includes joint efforts to establish digital infrastructure and property development within the zone.
H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem affirmed that PCFC's commitment to supporting the UAE's global outreach and sharing Dubai's pioneering experience in innovation and economic development. 'This initiative underscores our strategic relationships worldwide and reinforces PCFC's role as a key contributor to Dubai's knowledge and innovation-based economy. We are focused on launching cutting-edge projects that promote sustainable growth, invest in human capital and advanced technology, to cement Dubai's status as a global hub for smart technologies and digital transformation'.
He also expressed his appreciation for the Government of Ghana's trust in PCFC's expertise and its warm reception of the initiative. 'This smart economic zone, combining innovation, technology, and logistics, will foster commercial growth and strengthen Ghana's industrial and technological infrastructure'.
Hon. Samuel Nartey George stated that the partnership will significantly bolster Ghana's economic position, transforming it into a regional technology hub in Africa. 'This initiative aligns with Ghana's vision for digital transformation and sustainable economic growth. The zone will play a pivotal role in attracting global businesses and talent, positioning Accra as a destination of choice on the international stage.'
PCFC will implement and manage the advanced digital infrastructure in the zone to support the growth of local and regional businesses across Africa. The project will provide a robust platform for innovation, investment opportunities that empower global and local expansion.
Dedicated teams from both countries specializing in AI and investment will manage the zone, fostering innovation, business growth and regional connectivity. The collaboration aims to empower local communities, traders, and investors, driving inclusive and sustainable economic progress across the continent.
The partnership marks a major milestone in fostering international partnerships that advance technology and economic development, positioning Ghana at the forefront of Africa's digital future.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Trump says Nvidia's H20 is 'obsolete', yet there are worries about selling the GPU to China
US President Donald Trump explained his decision to allow Nvidia to sell its H20 graphics processing unit (GPU) to China on Monday by describing it as obsolete. More specifically, Mr Trump was asked about making a deal with Nvidia for the US government to receive a 15 per cent cut of sales to Beijing. 'I deal with Jensen [Huang], who is a great guy,' Mr Trump said, referring to Nvidia's chief executive and founder. 'The chip that we're talking about, the H20, it's an old chip and China already has it … but it's obsolete and it still has a market.' That begs the question, however, why there is so much demand from China for the H20, and why some elected officials and analysts are so concerned that Mr Trump will allow the chip to be sold to the country. By most standards, Mr Trump's description of the H20 as obsolete is incorrect – to describe a technology, particularly a piece of hardware like the H20 GPU, as obsolete is to imply that it's no longer supported by the tech world, making it completely impractical to use within an existing technology ecosystem. That's not the case with the H20, which was designed several years ago by Nvidia to comply with US regulations seeking to prevent powerful AI technologies from being used by countries it views as adversaries. In recent weeks, a group of Democratic senators sent a letter to White House officials criticising the move to allow the resumption of H20 sales to China, claiming that because of the GPU's improved power-efficiency and high-bandwidth memory chips, 'many PRC [People's Republic of China] firms reportedly prefer the H20 to other controlled chips'. That's hardly an indication a GPU design is obsolete. Late in July, in response to The National's inquires about concerns about the H20 being sold in China, Nvidia did not exactly describe the GPU as obsolete either. 'The H20 helps America win the support of developers worldwide, promoting America's economic and national security,' the statement read, emphasising the chip's deliberately modest attributes. 'It does not enhance anyone's military capabilities, and the US government has full visibility and authority over every H20 transactions.' Some Republicans have also described Nvidia's H20 as still relevant. Representative John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, recently opposed resuming exports of the H20 to China. 'The H20 is a stark improvement over what the Chinese can indigenously produce at scale,' he said during a speech at Purdue University's Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy. 'When, not if, these chips are diverted to [China's] People's Liberation Army supercomputer, they will substantially upgrade their ability to run advanced AI models.' H20 paranoia abounds Regardless of whether or not one considers the H20 to be obsolete, there is a tremendous amount of speculation surrounding the chip, with some of the paranoia coming from China, where there is demand for it. This month, Nvidia sought to debunk reports that claimed some of its chips had a backdoor kill switch, to blunt any misuse that might compromise national security. Some members of the US Congress have even sought to make it mandatory for certain chips to contain kill switches. 'Nvidia GPUs do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors,' a blog post from the company read. 'No kill switches, and no spyware … that's not how trustworthy systems are built – and never will be.' Despite those assurances, however, recent reports have indicated China still has concerns. According to Bloomberg, Chinese officials are telling various companies within the country to not use Nvidia's H20 over fears that the chips might be compromised and vulnerable to being exploited. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to The National's requests for comment. Trump praises Nvidia's Blackwell architecture Despite ample conjecture about the H20 coupled with the varying opinions about Nvidia's sales of it to China, during Mr Trump's news conference on Monday, he made clear that the company's other GPU offerings would likely not be exported to China anytime soon, at least not without a few changes. Mr Trump said Nvidia's highly touted Blackwell GPUs would need to be toned down before he would consider allowing them to be sold in China. 'It's super-duper advanced and I wouldn't make a deal with that,' he said, before quickly giving himself some wiggle room. 'Although it's possible that I would make a deal if they enhanced it in a negative way.' Mr Trump said based on his conversations with Mr Huang, he's impressed with the Blackwell platform, adding that in terms of processing power, none of Nvidia's competitors have it, 'and they probably won't for five years'. As for the 15 per cent cut that the Trump White House wants for the H20 sales to China, on Tuesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said similar approaches might be applied to other companies and products, although she said specifics were still being worked out by the Department of Commerce. Some have questioned the constitutionality of the move, referring to it as a "reverse tariff".
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
ADNOC expands AI training for future energy leaders at its Technical Academy
On International Youth Day, ADNOC continues to expand artificial intelligence training for Emiratis, embedding advanced tools like Neuron 5 into the ADNOC Technical Academy (ATA) curriculum. This move marks another step in ADNOC's strategy to become the world's most AI-enabled energy company by 2030 and ensures the next generation of engineers can maximize the potential of advanced technologies transforming the energy sector. Developed in collaboration with AVEVA and AIQ, Neuron 5 is an advanced AI-powered tool that monitors critical equipment, predicts faults before they occur and improves reliability. It has already been deployed across more than 20% of ADNOC's critical infrastructure and has helped to reduce unplanned shutdowns by 50% and cut planned maintenance by a fifth. Young people now learn how to use it at ATA, as ADNOC builds a talent pipeline fit for the future. And what they call have in common is the remarkable speed at which they have all adopted AI. Something that trainee engineers are also learning about. 'Bringing Neuron 5 into our training programs isn't just about learning a new tool – it's about preparing our people for the future of energy,' says Dr. Mariam Al Hendi, ADNOC's Manager of Technical Excellence. 'Neuron 5 uses real-time data from thousands of sensors to predict problems before they occur, helping reduce unplanned shutdowns and improve efficiency. By training engineers on this technology now, we're hopefully giving them the skills to make smarter decisions in the field. It ensures that they're not just reacting to issues, but staying ahead of them.' By integrating Neuron 5 into the ATA curriculum, ADNOC is ensuring that Emirati engineers can directly contribute to smarter, safer and more sustainable operations from the moment they enter the field. Because they will already have gained hands-on experience with technologies that are already reshaping global energy systems. This AI training push builds on decades of digital transformation and reflects ADNOC's ongoing efforts to integrate AI from the control room to the board room. To date, ADNOC has trained more than 40,000 employees on AI fundamentals. Moreover, the first cohort of nearly 150 Emirati engineers graduated from ADNOC's intensive AI Accelerator program this year – which is designed to embed advanced capabilities at onshore and offshore sites. 'Alongside traditional technical training, I'm now learning about AI and tools like Neuron 5 are showing us how technology can completely transform energy operations,' says Omran Al Zarooni, a trainee at the ATA. 'It's exciting to know that we're not just preparing for today's jobs, but fur the future of the energy industry.' Since its founding in 1978, ATA has trained more than 6,000 UAE Nationals, playing a pivotal role in shaping the country's industrial and energy workforce. Today, with 1,300 trainees across its Abu Dhabi and Al Dhanna campuses, the academy continues to evolve its programs in line with ADNOC's growth and the UAE's national development goals. With Neuron 5 training now available at ATA, ADNOC is ensuring that the UAE's energy workforce is not only job-ready, but future-ready. And as ADNOC expands internationally, AI literacy is becoming a critical driver of success – one that is being nurtured from the ground up.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Global Advisory Firms, Energy Institutions Join MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025
As West Africa accelerates energy expansion through large-scale infrastructure, oil, gas, mining and renewable energy developments, the role of advisory firms and strategic partners has become increasingly vital. As such, the upcoming MSGBC Oil, Gas&Power 2025 conference and exhibition – taking place in Dakar from December 9-10 – will feature key players in the sector, underscoring the platform's role as a key meeting place for regional collaboration and investment. Taking place under the theme Energy, Petroleum and Mining in Africa: Synergy for Inclusive Economic Development, MSGBC 2025 will convene governments, national oil companies, investors and private sector leaders for two days of high-level dialogue, technical sessions and deal-making. With energy at the cornerstone of the region's economic future, the conference serves as a critical platform to foster cooperation and unlock shared growth across Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region's oil, gas and power sector. Visit to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas&Power 2025 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@ As a strategic advisory firm specializing in integrated infrastructure, energy and mining across the African continent, Africa International Advisors (AIA) works closely with governments, development partners and private sector clients to structure bankable projects and unlock investment. This year, AIA Partner Henry Gilfillan and Associate Partner Lwandle Fakazi will bring valuable insights to the event, drawing on the firm's experience in utility-scale renewable power, gas-to-power initiatives, transmission infrastructure and public sector reform within energy institutions. The firm will host a dedicated workshop on the event's pre-conference day, taking place on December 8, which is expected to provide practical guidance on project preparation and financing. Business management consultant Conjuncta GmbH is currently leading the development of a $34 billion green hydrogen project in Mauritania, in collaboration with renewable energy company Infinity Power and investment agency Masdar. The project – one of the largest of its kind in Africa – is set to deliver up to 10 GW of electrolyzer capacity and is a cornerstone of Mauritania's efforts to become a competitive exporter of green fuels and clean energy. As a speaker, Stefan Liebing, CEO, Conjuncta GmbH, is expected to drive discussions around the potential for green hydrogen in supporting industrialization and clean energy exports in West Africa. Liebing is participating in the From Vision to Reality: How Will Hydrogen Shape Africa's Landscape session, which aims to explore green hydrogen's role in transforming the continent's energy future. Representing global data and analytics provider S&P Global Commodity Insights, Director of Energy&Natural Resources Jennifer Jumbe will also speak at the event. The firm continues to provide critical market intelligence to investors and policymakers across the MSGBC basin, recently covering major developments in Senegal's upstream sector – including the first crude cargoes from the Sangomar oilfield – and has partnered with Energy Capital&Power (ECP) to expand market access and transparency across Africa's energy landscape. Rita Madeira, Africa Program Officer-West and Southern Africa, International Energy Agency (IEA) has also been confirmed to speak at MSGBC 2025. The IEA plays a vital role in supporting African countries on policy alignment, energy security and clean energy transitions. Following Senegal's accession as an IEA association country in 2023, the agency has deepened its engagement with regional partners, offering policy support, technical assistance and analytical collaboration. 'The participation of top-tier global advisors and institutions – whose expertise spans project finance, legal advisory and energy infrastructure – at this year's event underscores growing international confidence in the region's energy expansion. This exciting lineup of speakers reinforces our mission to facilitate bankable deals, targeted knowledge-sharing and cement regional partnerships,' states Sandra Jeque, Project Director, ECP. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
