VENDREDI 05 MARS 2021 BIZWEEK ÉDITION 332 A A « Mauritius can serve as an ICT service base for the African market » During the second day of the workshop held this week concerning the validation of China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement, Huawei Technologies showcased further objectives earmarked in the near future following the ambition of « Shaping Future Economic Perspectives ». The Free Trade Agreement will enable Huawei to collaborate with a multitude of companies at local and international levels. It willalso expand Huawei’s reach to not only businesses but also financial services, including numerous global banks from around the world. Darsanand Balgobin, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, has highlighted that, « Mauritius can serve as an ICT service base for the African market. Chinese and Mauritian ventures are most welcome to setup assembly plants in BIZ ALERT DIGITAL ECONOMY Huawei Enables Mauritius Digital Trade In the context of the validation of China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement in 2021, CMFTA has remarked the first free trade agreement between China and Africa countries. The Economic Development Board held a workshop namely Shaping Future Economic Perspectives, whereby Huawei instigated the idea of encouraging « digitization » of businesses in Mauritius in order to fulfil its role as an emerging digital leader in Africa Huawei’s presentation on « New Technologies as Trade Enablers » was part of the two-day event, introduced by Mr. Ian J. Valentine, Principal Consultant Digital Strategy and Product along with Mr. Craig John Burchell, Vice-President of Global Public Affairs at Huawei Technologies. During the presentation, points concerning the necessity of « Globalization » were underlined. A focused comparison to China’s Digital Economy was made as to achievea goal on a local basis. Furthermore, the focal point of the presentation was the collaboration between China and Mauritius geared toward making Mauritius shift to not only goods trading but also a services export hub with E-Commerce and innovations in global market, based on its attractiveness from a fiscal soundness perspective and delivery capacity. As mentioned by Mr. Hu Ming, Economic Counsellor, « Service trading plays an important role to support Mauritius shift into a digital and service-based economy. Global company like Huawei is one of the examples successfully setup its global headquarter in Mauritius. Huawei has created more Mauritius for technological products like smart phones, smart TVs and target the African Continent. » Big Chinese multinationals, in the ICT sector, like Huawei, has brought in their contribution in the sector. They have structured their HQ in Mauritius and employing more than 300 employees. Huawei is also contributing to create the talent to support Mauritius shift into a digital and service-based economy for example the Seeds for the Future programme where they provide local students training and exposure to cutting edge technology and know-how from China. Huawei has been a major partner in organizing various events likes the World AI Show, to shape the AI roadmap of Mauritius, the 5G seminar, Innovation for All Summit. « Other big Chinese businesses like Alibaba could than 1500 job opportunities since 2004, it nowadays employed more than 200 local employees and has been contributing toupskill the ICT and Finance professionals through its training programs, and enabled Mauritius to export talent to other African countries. » In 2021, Huawei has again been recognized as one of the top employers in Nigeria. The company has received the annual Top Employers Certification Award for the second year in a row, in recognition exceptional employee practices in Nigeria. Furthermore, Huawei sub-Saharan Africa achieved Continental HQ Certification for 2021, after being certified a Top Employer in four or more countries. In addition to Nigeria, Huawei also received the prestigious award in South Africa, Zambia, and Kenya. In Mauritius, with the philosophy of being « In Mauritius for Mauritius », Huawei is committed as the technology enabler and support the country in export of services through ICT infrastructure development, creating job opportunities and ICT talent pool for the new economic paradigm during post-COVID-19 economic recovery. leverage Mauritius geographic position as a logistics hub and service the Eastern and Southern African region », Minister Balgobin also said. Representing Huawei on the panel discussion ‘The Trilateral Axis  : China – Mauritius – Africa’, Ian Valentine, Principal Consultant at Huawei Technologies, claims that, « Mauritius can act as a bridge between the Western Clouds, and the Chinese Clouds » which implies that Mauritius will be a gateway for China to the Western countries, and vice versa. During the panel discussion, the focus was on the « exponential digitisation » of the economy in the Financial Sector and its positive effect on revolutionizing Africa. Mr. Valentine also reveals that Mauritius can be _a a « Catalyst » for the unification of Africa as a force on the global economy. 3