Kigali: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the Global AI Summit on Africa 2025, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme "AI and Africa's Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa's Workforce."
This two-day event, which commenced today, focused on discussing the latest advancements, innovations, and technologies in artificial intelligence while facilitating knowledge exchange among participating nations. It also provided a platform to highlight investment prospects in the Sultanate of Oman within the AI sector and to strengthen collaboration with global companies.
Leading the Omani delegation at the summit was Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. The delegation comprised ministry officials and representatives from Omani tech firms, including ITCHA Group, Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), and Oman Data Park.
The summit attracted over 1,000 attendees from 95 countries, including policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and representatives from more than 100 AI companies. The primary goal was to accelerate AI innovation and align strategic policies to enhance Africa's AI capabilities, fostering competitiveness and inclusive growth.
The summit marked the introduction of the Africa AI Council, which is set to spearhead the advancement of the continent's artificial intelligence initiatives. It featured a series of panel discussions and workshops, along with a showcase of products from over 100 emerging AI companies in Africa. Additionally, the event included conversations focused on leveraging AI to foster innovation and enhance the skills of the African workforce.
On the sidelines of the summit, Al Shidhani met with Paula Ingabire, Rwanda's Minister of Communications, Information Technology, and Innovation. Their discussion centered on enhancing collaboration in the ICT sector and examining Rwanda's journey in digital transformation.
