Africa looks to Russia for AI partnerships
Global Digital Forum guests from several African nations emphasized the need for more inclusive, cooperative approaches to transforming their economies, and voiced an interest in deepening ties with Russia in the tech sphere. The event kicked off on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod.
Eugénio Alberto Macumbe, head of the Digital Governance Division at Mozambique's ICT Regulatory Authority, told RT that his country is currently pursuing both a digital transformation and AI strategies.
Macumbe highlighted Russia's advanced progress in AI and underscored the value of learning from its expertise: 'I think this forum is a great opportunity for developing countries like Mozambique to learn from global experts, including Russian experts on the digital transformation process,' he said, adding that Russia is 'very advanced in this process.'
Speaking to RT, Kenyan researcher Risper Onyango pointed out that the deployment of artificial intelligence globally often fails to reflect African voices or local realities. 'We have suffered the heavy hand of the deployment of AI,' she said.
'They [these technologies] are not localized, they don't share our story.' She emphasized that African countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo bear the environmental costs of tech production, while receiving minimal benefit in return.
Onyango welcomed the inclusive nature of the current discussions, noting that platforms like the Global Digital Forum allow for the co-creation of solutions rather than their top-down imposition. 'It's going to be something that is co-created for all the participants and then useful for all the societies represented,' she said.
For Zimbabwean official Joseph Kisi, the event served as a reminder of Russia's historic support for African nations and his country's liberation struggle.
Kisi said that Zimbabwe remains eager to pursuing technology which will allow it to develop. 'We are searching for new ideas, the new technologies, to develop our nation,' he stated.
The Global Digital Forum is taking place in Nizhny Novgorod on June 5-6. According to the organizers, about 2,000 people from 116 countries have taken part in it, including representatives from Niger, the Republic of the Congo, the Comoros, Malawi, Cameroon, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Senegal, and elsewhere.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
6 hours ago
- Russia Today
Russia and Global South shaping multipolar digital future
Russia and the Global South have been strengthening ties and expanding digital cooperation in light of new opportunities opened by Western sanctions, according to delegates attending the country's first Global Digital Forum this week. The two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod, brought together government officials, business leaders, and experts from more than 100 countries, including China, India, and some African nations. Some of them shared their views with RT on the sidelines of the forum, highlighting prospects for collaboration in areas such as trade, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology transfer. 'China and Russia are strategic partners and good neighbors,' said Zhou Liqun, chairman of the Chinese Entrepreneurs' Union in Russia. He noted that bilateral trade reached $240 billion last year, with China remaining Russia's top food product partner for 15 consecutive years. 'Even under sanctions, the number of Chinese companies in Russia is growing,' Zhou said, adding 'We see the trend of promising cooperation.' Sun Tianshu, founder of the China-Russian Platform, pointed out that 'many opportunities in the (Russian) market [were] freed up' following the introduction of Western restrictions, allowing Chinese firms to step in. 'Trade between our countries has one tendency – growth,' he said, stressing that past challenges, including payment issues, had been resolved. 'Even if new problems appear, we will be able to solve them,' he argued. Indian cybersecurity expert Sunny Vaghela called for closer cooperation in the AI and cyber fields. 'Russia is technologically advanced, and India is a hub of tech talent. Why not join hands to make AI and cyber a boom for both countries?' asked the CEO of Techdefence Labs. He added that some Russian companies were ready to come to India to collaborate. African delegates voiced similar interest in digital partnerships, especially in sectors like agriculture, education, and information management. 'We came to learn how to bring AI and robotics home to help our people,' said Tanzanian expert Henry Nkya. 'Russia is using AI to boost productivity – we want to do the same.' His colleague Mawazo Mataje emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange. 'We're looking at sharing skills, experiences, and cultural understanding between Russia and the Global South,' he said. Bangladeshi entrepreneur Mohammad Saber Shah described the event as 'a truly encouraging experience,' saying he had the chance to meet IT professionals 'from around the globe.' 'This forum acts as a bridge between us,' helping identify gaps that can be filled through partnerships. 'Russia has long been a friend to Bangladesh – there's now real opportunity for digital collaboration,' he said.
Russia Today
9 hours ago
- Russia Today
Russia hosts first Global Digital Forum
Russia hosted its first Global Digital Forum this week, gathering government officials, business leaders, and international experts to discuss artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and technological cooperation. The two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod – one of the country's main IT hubs – was part of the annual 'Digitalization of Industrial Russia' conference. Organizers said the forum drew thousands of participants from more than 100 countries. 'It is impossible to talk about any kind of isolation of Russia on the international stage,' Dmitry Starostin, deputy chairman of Nizhny Novgorod Region, told RT on the sidelines of the forum, noting that all the global regions were represented. 'We are seeing a good turnout from African states, Asian and Latin American countries, as well as Europe,' he said. According to Starostin, it is 'crucial that most countries' share Russia's approaches to digitalization and the spread of IT worldwide. The event featured exhibitions, workshops, cultural events and sessions on AI, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty and equal access to digital tools. Attendees took part in high-level discussions with industry leaders and policymakers, sharing best practices and insights into shaping the global digital agenda. More than 100 agreements, memoranda and IT contracts were signed during the event. 'Russia has extensive experience in ensuring digital sovereignty,' said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, adding that it makes cooperation particularly relevant for developing countries striving to overcome the 'digital divide' with the West.
Russia Today
10 hours ago
- Russia Today
RT ACADEMY HOSTS ITS FIRST JOURNALISM TRAINING COURSE IN AFRICA
MOSCOW, JUNE 6, 2025 — RT Academy, RT's international educational project, has held its first in-person journalism master-classes in Africa. During a visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, RT conducted sessions for local media professionals and staff from the Ministry of Defense. RT experts also led intensive training at Ethiopia's two largest television networks — Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) and Fana Broadcasting Corporate. 'Our first in-person training course in Africa was met with great enthusiasm from local journalists. We're confident that the knowledge and expertise we shared in Ethiopia will help amplify the voice of African media on the global stage,' said Anna Kovtunova, head of RT's Educational Projects. More than 100 journalists, anchors, and cameramen attended the RT-led workshops which were held in Addis Ababa from June 2 to June 6. RT's PR specialists, war correspondents, and cameramen shared insights into the realities of reporting — from interviewing political leaders to covering conflict zones, filming with drones and mobile phones, and using artificial intelligence in broadcast journalism. Course participants learned about the news production process, how to present confidently on camera, engage audiences on social media, and create high-quality video content. As part of the visit to Ethiopia, RT also signed an agreement to cooperate with the country's largest TV channel — EBC. RT broadcasts in Africa in English, Arabic, and French. The network operates news bureaus in several countries and maintains a wide network of correspondents across the continent. More than 60 African TV channels feature RT content on their broadcasts and digital platforms. RT Academy is RT's international educational project; it was launched in 2024. The initiative has offered online courses for journalists from Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN), India, China, and Africa. The first media course for African journalists, conducted in English and French, attracted over 1,000 participants from 35 countries.
