Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 16 August 2024, Tashkent hosted the closing ceremony of the Huawei Seeds for the Future 2024 educational program for students from the Middle East and Central Asia, along with the Tech4Good competition award ceremony.

Over the week, 150 participants from 14 countries underwent intensive training in advanced ICT technologies, enhanced their tech leadership skills, and engaged in lectures and discussions on global trends.

Huawei, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the IT Education Association, held the closing ceremony of the regional Seeds for the Future 2024 program in Tashkent. The event was attended by representatives from the ICT sector of Uzbekistan, professors and educators from the Middle East and Central Asia, diplomatic mission representatives in Uzbekistan, and Huawei executives.

In his welcoming speech, Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, stated: “Huawei is making a significant contribution to Uzbekistan’s digital transformation history. We were pleased to host the Seeds for the Future 2024 program because we firmly believe that skill development and industry exposure are essential for students to drive innovation in the digital economy. We are grateful to Huawei for organizing such competitions and for enabling regional students to challenge themselves and learn from industry leaders. Initiatives like Seeds for the Future play a crucial role in equipping youth with industry knowledge and strengthening the ICT talent ecosystem in the region.”

Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei for the Middle East and Central Asia, remarked: “The regional Seeds for the Future program in Uzbekistan is not by chance, as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative for local students and the 25th anniversary of Huawei’s operations in Uzbekistan. We are grateful to the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan for their support and for making this significant event possible in Uzbekistan. We believe the project has played a vital role in developing ICT talents in the region and expanding opportunities for youth to drive digital innovations and shape a sustainable future for the region.”

Also attending the ceremony was Ms. Naushin Adnan, Member of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Advisor to the Chief Minister on Education Reforms. In her speech, Ms. Adnan highlighted: “It is truly inspiring to see the talents and enthusiasm of young minds representing their countries at the Seeds for the Future 2024 closing ceremony. I would like to express my appreciation to Huawei for providing our students with a platform to develop their ICT skills on a global level. Such programs are crucial for student preparation, talent development in the region, and mark a giant leap into the digital age.”

During the ceremony, winners of the annual Tech4Good competition, held as part of Seeds for the Future 2024, were awarded: the "Future Gadget Lab" team from Kuwait and the "Team Beyond Limits" from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The winners will proceed to the global finals in China next year. Additionally, student projects from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman were recognized. The Tech4Good competition aims to empower youth and engage them in positive changes within their communities. This unique platform encourages young minds to address pressing social issues using the latest ICT technologies.

This year’s Seeds for the Future 2024 program brought together 150 students from 14 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, representing leading universities from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Uzbekistan. Over the week, participants developed their ICT skills and broadened their horizons through a series of sessions, activities, competitions, and cultural exchange programs, including the "Global Village" event and a tour of Samarkand.

From 11 to 17 August, students took part in intensive training and seminars in Tashkent, focusing on advanced ICT technologies, scientific and technological leadership, global discussions, Tech4Good group projects, and more. Through learning and mutual exchange, participants gained a better understanding of 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, and Wi-Fi 7, creating more opportunities for future growth and enhancing their competitiveness in the job market. Students also had the chance to interact with Huawei professionals in Uzbekistan.

Fifteen students from Uzbekistan, representing eight local universities — Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Inha University in Tashkent, Amity University in Tashkent, New Uzbekistan University, Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, Tashkent International University of Education, Westminster International University in Tashkent, and Mirzo-Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan — also participated in Seeds for the Future 2024. Over the past nine years, 147 students from Uzbekistan have participated in the Huawei program.