Google for Startups has launched the ‘AI Academy’ in Pakistan to foster Artificial Intelligence development across Asia-Pacific. This initiative, part of the Google Chromebook project, aims to establish Pakistan as a key AI hub through innovative partnerships and educational programs, including providing 1,000 scholarships to university students.
The Tawakkalna app, developed by SDAIA, topped Saudi Arabia’s Digital Experience Maturity Index for 2024 with a 91.29% rating. Recognized for integrating government services and enhancing user satisfaction, it supports over 32 million users globally, affirming Saudi Arabia’s leadership in digital transformation and artificial intelligence utilization.
Oman has achieved significant progress in government digital transformation from 2021-2023, focusing on digital services, infrastructure projects, and community participation. Key initiatives include the Manjam Laboratories for simplifying procedures and a unified national portal for electronic services, enhancing efficiency and attracting foreign investments.
Ooredoo and Qatar Airways have partnered with Google Cloud for a large-scale cloud adoption initiative to enhance customer experiences and sustainability. This collaboration involves creating a hybrid multi-cloud environment, leveraging Google Cloud’s AI capabilities and ensuring high security and local data compliance.
Telecom Egypt reported a 1.83% increase in Q1-2024 net profit, reaching EGP 3.88 billion. Consolidated operating revenues grew to EGP 17.48 billion. The standalone net profit rose to EGP 4.38 billion, with operating revenue at EGP 12.59 billion. The company plans to enhance cost efficiency and monetize assets generating foreign currency returns.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawah, launched the “National Internet Switchboard” in Riyadh to enhance internet quality. This initiative, part of the National Transformation Program 2020, aims to activate digital services and boost information security, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
Tunisie Telecom has partnered with Telepin to launch a converged charging system for its customers. This partnership aims to unify Tunisie Telecom’s charging services into Telepin’s platform, enhancing customer experience for its six million subscribers with secure and integrated top-up solutions.
Zain Bahrain reported a 2.6% increase in Q2 2024 net profit to BD 1.35 million and a 7.6% rise in H1 2024 EBITDA to BD 11.79 million. Revenue for H1 2024 grew by 3.5% to BD 38.44 million. The company highlighted significant achievements in 5G innovation, sustainability, partnerships, and awards for excellence.
Wasoko and MaxAB, two of Africa’s top B2B e-commerce companies, have completed the continent’s largest tech merger, forming a pan-African digital retail platform. The merger combines their expertise across multiple countries, creating a multi-vertical ecosystem serving Africa’s $600 billion informal retail sector, with extensive offerings in e-commerce, fintech, and AI-driven services.
Veon, Beeline Kazakhstan, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and the GSMA are collaborating to bridge the “AI language gap” for under-represented languages. They aim to develop tools and documentation for languages spoken in countries like Pakistan, Ukraine, and Bangladesh, addressing the limited resources that hinder AI model performance and inclusivity.
