The winners of the Huawei ICT Competition Middle East 2022 were announced at a closing ceremony on December 22 in Muscat, Oman. The competition, Huawei’s flagship event, saw 15 teams of the brightest young tech talents shortlisted from a pool of 19,300 participants representing 472 universities and 11 countries across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Pakistan Team 1, consisting of Muhammad Ali and Asad Anwer from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro and Eman Yaqoob from Lahore College for Women University, secured second place. The first prize of $20,000 went to the Jordan team, comprising students Hamzah Al-Zubaidi and Aws Al-Rayya from Princess Sumaya University for Technology and Yazan Al Shannik from Yarmouk University.
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The third prize went to the UAE Team, the Bahrain Team, and the Kazakhstan Team. The top winners will represent the Middle East and Central Asia in the global finals competition that will take place next year in Shanghai, China.
The ceremony was attended by ambassadors to China from the participating countries, including Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East & Central Asia, and Li Lingbing, Chinese Ambassador to Oman. In his opening speech, Wang commended the competition’s winners and acknowledged the outstanding participants.
Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shaidani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, praised Oman’s strong digital capabilities and infrastructure, which he said make it a technology hub that aims to pave the way for young talents in the region.
To further support and nurture young ICT talent in the region, Huawei announced a financial incentives program for Omani students who have received the Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) or Huawei Certified ICT Expert (HCIE) certification.
The program, organized in collaboration with Huawei and Omantel, will provide students with $450,000 in financial incentives over a period of five years. It is part of Huawei’s broader efforts to empower the youth to advance their ICT skills and contribute to the talent ecosystem, supporting the acceleration of digital economies.
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Talal Said Marhoon Al Mamari, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), also spoke at the ceremony, saying that the company is proud to be a partner in the National Digital Upskilling Initiative (Makeen) and to host the Huawei ICT Competition Middle East 2022.
He added that Omantel is committed to supporting the development of ICT skills among young people in the region and contributing to the digital economy’s growth and success.
The Huawei ICT Competition Middle East 2022 is just one example of Huawei’s efforts to support and cultivate ICT talent in the region.
The company has a long history of investing in and supporting education, training, and research in the field of ICT, with a focus on developing the next generation of ICT professionals and leaders. Through initiatives such as this competition, Huawei aims to foster a culture of innovation and excellence in ICT and to contribute to the development of a thriving and sustainable digital ecosystem.
In addition to supporting education and training, Huawei is also committed to driving innovation and research in the field of ICT. The company has a robust research and development program that focuses on a wide range of areas, including 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things.
Through its research and development efforts, Huawei aims to push the boundaries of what is possible in ICT and to create new technologies and solutions that will benefit society and drive economic growth.
Overall, Huawei’s efforts to support and cultivate ICT talent in the Middle East and Central Asia region are a testament to the company’s commitment.