🌍 Advanced technology has long been seen by African countries as a key tool that can provide new impetus to the development of their economies, making them more innovative.

However, today African countries do not have the appropriate financial, material or technological resources to develop local information infrastructure and transition to having an innovative economy.

In order to catch up with Western countries in their development, they have to resort to the help of the same Western states, which, skilfully speculating on the financial dependence of their African partners, force them to carry out the necessary reforms to open the African information market for their telecommunications enterprises in order to strengthen their positions in region.

Undoubtedly, this circumstance poses a serious threat to the technological sovereignty of African countries, writes Konstantin Pantserev, Professor at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations of the Faculty of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/the-problem-of-technological-sovereignty/

#Norms_and_Values #Africa #technologies

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📆 ANNOUNCEMENT: On May 22, at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host an expert panel discussion titled “Advanced Information Technologies as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development for African Countries.”

The development of a knowledge-based economy is a priority for both developed and developing nations. Innovative technologies are seen as a powerful tool for achieving sustainable socio-economic progress.

African countries have recognized the importance of adopting advanced information technologies in their national strategies. Over the past two decades, they have made significant strides in this area, but they still face challenges such as providing high-speed internet access, training IT professionals, establishing data processing centers and developing domestic software.

As part of the panel discussion, experts will examine the potential for the adoption of advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) in African countries, with a focus on how these technologies can contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of the continent.

❓How can ICT innovation contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in African countries?
❓How to avoid the already excessive dependence on Western technologies and standards?

Participants in the discussion will try to answer these and other questions.

🎙️ Speakers:

🇷🇺 Konstantin Pantserev, Professor at St. Petersburg State University

🇰🇪🇷🇺 Claire Ayuma Amuhaya, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia

🇳🇬 Olusesan Michael Awoleye (Ph.D.), Senior Research Fellow, African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

🇸🇳 Ibrahim Diagne, Director of Ydna Vita Ltd and member of the Board of the Wagadu Action Alliance for Sharing Knowledge and Culture in Senegal

🇳🇦 Artwell Nhemachena, Research Fellow at the University of South Africa and Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia

🇰🇪 Macharia Munene, Professor of History and International Relations at the United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya

🇨🇮 Adu Yao Nicaise, Associate Professor at Department of International Law, Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia

Moderator:

🗣 Oleg Barabanov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

https://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/valdai-club-to-discuss-advanced-information-technologies-in-africa/

Working languages: Russian, English

ℹ️ Information for the media: Dear journalists, to be accredited for the event, please fill out the form on our website. If you have any questions about the event, call +79269307763. 

Links to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 

#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #technologies

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⏰ TODAY at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host an expert panel discussion titled “Advanced Information Technologies as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development for African Countries.”

❓How can ICT innovation contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in African countries?
❓How to avoid the already excessive dependence on Western technologies and standards?

Participants in the discussion will try to answer these and other questions.

A link to the live broadcast of the discussion will be posted on all online platforms of the Valdai Club: on the website, X (formerly Twitter), VK, Telegram and Dzen. 
#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #technologies

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🎥 LIVE: at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host an expert panel discussion titled “Advanced Information Technologies as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development for African Countries.”
 
https://vk.com/video-214192832_456239193

#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #technologies

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🛜🌍 Information Technology for Africa: A New Threat of Colonisation or the Road to the Future?

On May 22, 2024, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion, titled “Advanced Information Technologies as a Driver of Socio-Economic Development for African Countries.” 

💬 Oleg Barabanov, the moderator of the discussion, called the formation of a new economy based on knowledge one of the key priorities of modern development, adding that it was especially important for developing countries.

💬 Konstantin Pantserev, a professor at St. Petersburg State University, outlined the general framework of the situation. He noted that after gaining independence, African countries faced the problem of integrating into the system of international relations. In information technology, many countries managed to achieve noticeable success in this area; Africa’s ‘mobile revolution’ can be considered an example of this. However, one problem remains: the lack of funds for the implementation of ambitious projects.

💬 Adu Yao Nicaise, Associate Professor at Department of International Law at Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia, devoted his speech to the legal side of the matter. African states pay a lot of attention to issues of legal regulation in the field of information technology and artificial intelligence. However, the servers are still located in foreign countries, outside their jurisdiction. This gives rise to many collisions and conflicts.

💬 Claire Ayuma Amuhaya, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia, emphasised that even African countries' own innovations, which serve as a reason for justified pride, usually rely on foreign technology. She also noted with regret the clearly insufficient level of spending on research and development in Africa - much lower than average in the world, calling for a focus on this area.

💬 Olusesan Michael Awoleye, Ph.D., a Senior Research Fellow at the African Institute for Science Policy, and Innovation at Obafemi Awolowo University, provided a vision from Nigeria. He associated a certain lag in development with colonisation, also recognising that Nigeria remains a user of technology rather than a producer. In addition, problems with the energy supply and infrastructure continue to be continent-wide. However, Africa is a market that has enormous potential and offers great opportunities for investors.

💬 Artwell Nhemachena, Research Fellow at the University of South Africa and Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia, called it a problem that both technology and scientific knowledge come to Africa from outside. “The root of the problem is that we are not inventing anything,” he said. The first problem leads to the second – the risk of colonisation.

💬 Macharia Munene, Professor of History and International Relations at the United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasised the importance of critical thinking. Development is determined not only by the presence of technologically competent personnel, but also by a friendly environment created by political measures. It was with the latter - the development and implementation of competent policies - that serious difficulties arose in Africa due to the colonial experience.

https://valdaiclub.com/events/posts/articles/information-technology-for-africa-a-new-threat-of-colonisation-or-the-road-to-the-future/

#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #technologies

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📳🌍 Upon gaining independence, the nations of Africa faced the challenge of integrating into the global system as equal players.

The leadership of these countries largely linked its strategy to the implementation of industrialisation in order to achieve parity with the world’s leading powers within a decade or two in terms of socio-economic progress.

However, lacking a solid financial and technological base to address this objective, African countries became reliant on external assistance for development, which has only increased over time.

According to African governments, public-private partnerships are expected to play a crucial role in the development of innovation centres. These partnerships involve the state covering only a small portion of the overall costs associated with the construction of these centres, typically around 5-10%.

The success of these projects largely depends on private companies, which are expected to get a favourable environment for their operations, Konstantin Pantserev writes.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/africa-overcome-reliance/

#GlobalAlternatives #Africa #technologies

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