The Digital Future in Europe

The future of European organisations and industries is looking increasingly digital and cloud-centric.  According to Foundry’s Digital Business Study 2023, 91% of EMEA organisations have adopted or plan to adopt a digital-first business strategy. At the same time, Foundry’s Cloud Computing Study 2023 found that 71% of EMEA organisations are defaulting to cloud-based services when upgrading or purchasing, while 60% have been accelerating their cloud migrations over the past year.

EMEA organisations expect cloud computing to Improve productivity, enable innovation and new product/service development, and upgrade legacy tech with lower total cost of ownership. 54% of IT Decision Makers also expect to use cloud capabilities to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) over the next year, which many see as a potential game changer for their industries.

However, EMEA organisations are facing challenges in their digital and cloud journeys. 34% reported a lack of the right skill sets, while 29% cited complexity of IT infrastructure as a major hurdle. There were also concerns around data privacy and security, cloud costs, and compliance issues which would need to be addressed before organisations could reap the potential offered by the cloud.

Enabling Industries through Everything as a Service

To help European industries and organisations overcome these challenges and quickly enable cloud initiatives, Huawei Cloud has adopted a strategy of “Everything as a Service.” This comprises multiple tenets:

• Infrastructure as a Service allows industry partners to rapidly scale their computing, network and storage across Huawei’s global access network, comprising 30 Regions and 84 Availability Zones across more than 170 countries
• Technology as a Service makes available Huawei’s continuous innovation and leading-edge capabilities in cloud-native, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data and media, offering organisations more flexibility and choice in their technology partnerships
• Expertise as a Service taps on Huawei’s three decades of experience in ICT, as well as the best practices of its network of global partners

Leading innovation in cloud-native, data, and AI

Huawei’s answer to the growing demand for cloud-native as the platform-of-choice for digitalisation is KooVerse: Huawei Cloud’s distributed infrastructure of storage, computing, networking, and security resources, designed with a unified architecture on a globally accessible platform to help organisations leverage the latest in cloud-native services and technologies.

To that point, Huawei is the only founding member of the Cloud-Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) from Asia, due to its consistent investment in developing and improving cloud-native services such as Ubiquitous Cloud-Native Services (UCS), Cloud Container Engine (CCE) Turbo, Cloud Container Instance (CCI), and CCE AutoPilot. In the Netherlands, these services helped 433, the world’s biggest football community, Improve production efficiency and reduce costs by 25%.

On the data side, GuassDB is the result of 20 years of experience developing databases. Huawei’s next-generation distributed cloud database is designed for high availability and security, performance and flexibility. GaussDB has been widely used in banking, insurance, securities, and energy.

Tailoring AI for Industries

Building on its “AI for Industries” strategy, Huawei Cloud designed Pangu pre-trained AI models, tailored for a range of industries including finance, government, manufacturing, mining, meteorology, and railways.

“Huawei Cloud Pangu models will empower everyone from every industry with an intelligent assistant,” says Zhang Ping’an, Huawei’s Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Cloud, “and help to reshape all industries with AI.”

In the field of meteorology, the Pangu weather model has become the first to achieve better precision than state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction methods, with a prediction speed several orders of magnitude faster. Consider how the Pangu model was able to predict a 10-day typhoon trajectory in 10 seconds against five hours using current methods. These ground-breaking results were published in the July edition of the scientific journal Nature. In pharmaceutical R&D, the Pangu drug molecule model has drastically shortened lead compound discovery cycles from years to a single month, while achieving a 70% reduction of costs.

Building Trust in the Cloud

Addressing a key concern for EMEA IT leaders, Huawei Cloud has more than 120 security and compliance certifications, including C5 certification with zero deviation. Huawei Cloud provides compliance consulting and security services, while Huawei’s Compliance Compass platform helps users ensure security and compliance.

To help build trust in cloud services in the EU, Huawei Cloud works with SCOPE Europe and EU Cloud CoC to contribute to the Third Country Transfers Module and GDPR Compliance Standards. Huawei Cloud has also released white papers to share its expertise on privacy protection, data security and cloud security, and is a Board Member of the EU Cloud Code of Conduct General Assembly.

Huawei Cloud sees stability and reliability as critical lifelines. Deterministic Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) offers service availability of over 99.99%, with recovery four times faster than industry average. In addition, Huawei Cloud offers a three-level support system, deploying five service teams in Europe, and a series of 24/7 support centers worldwide. 

Bringing Local to a Global Ecosystem

As a global cloud service provider, Huawei Cloud offers expertise and experience in digitalisation and globalisation, as well as ecosystem capabilities to help partners expand into global markets. A leading Chinese car brand was able to earn compliance certification and deploy their solution in one month to get their business up and running in Europe. Huawei Cloud also supports French manufacturers with resources to expand in China.

Complementing globalisation, Huawei Cloud also offers localisation experience and access to local and global partners through the “Go Cloud, Grow Cloud” ecosystem. “We share capabilities and success with our partners,” says Jacqueline Shi, President of Huawei Cloud Global Marketing and Sales Service. “Only when the local ecosystem grows, can digital transformation grow, in a healthy and sustainable way.”

The number of Huawei Cloud partners in Europe has grown 400% in 2023 alone, with a five-fold growth in the number of partner solutions. Over the next five years, Huawei Cloud aims to support 1,000 European startups to grow on cloud, further building innovation within the ecosystem.

Contributing to the Cloud for Good

Besides digital ecosystems, Huawei Cloud is using its cloud and AI expertise to help protect Europe’s rich natural ecosystems and species. For global environmental protection organisations such as IUCN and Rainforest Connection, ICT is becoming a crucial tool to protect forests, wetlands, and oceans in countries like Italy, Norway and Ireland.

In Norway, for example, the population of Atlantic Salmon has been declining rapidly, under threat from an invasive species: humpback salmon. The humpback has disrupted food chains, introduced diseases, and upset the natural balance of native ecosystems. Huawei’s AI solution is helping to save Norway’s endangered Atlantic Salmon by identifying humpback salmon with an accuracy of up to 91%, so they can be blocked from entering upstream channels.

A European Future with Huawei

Since 2016, Huawei Cloud has worked with partners to serve more than 3,000 European organisations across a range of industries. By continuing to invest in innovation and trust while leveraging local and global expertise, Huawei Cloud will continue to be a reliable partner in Europe, for Europe, creating new value for industries and accelerating intelligence with the “Everything as a Service” strategy.

Click here to learn how Huawei Cloud solutions can help transform your organisation.

Kheti Venture Pvt. Ltd., the category winner, received a Huawei Cloud worth $3000, while other finalists in the same category received Huawei Cloud worth $500 each.

Ivan Mo, Head of Huawei Cloud, said during the award ceremony, "I want to congratulate all winners and finalists for their contribution in the ICT sector. We are very pleased to see the growth of startups in Nepal." He further added that a local team is working vigorously to promote Nepali startups, and that the company believes Huawei cloud service is now fully capable of supporting Nepali startups of all sizes.

During the event, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki handed over a token of appreciation to William Zhang, CEO of Huawei Nepal, for continuing its support for ICT Award, and altogether ICT sector of Nepal.

Huawei expressed its commitment to continue its support such events to promote the development of the ICT industry in Nepal, staying true to its vision to promote the development of the ICT industry in Nepal.

(MENAFN- BCW Global) Middle East, November 26, 2023 – At its inaugural "Go Cloud, Go Middle East" roadshow series, Huawei Cloud empowered Chinese enterprises to expand in the rapidly evolving Middle East market. The comprehensive series unfolded across key cities in China, including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing during November. Each event emphasized specific sectors - AIGC, VC, media & gaming, and FinTech - showcasing Huawei Cloud's commitment to fostering collaboration and business growth opportunities in the Middle East.

Huawei Cloud's event in Shenzhen marked the beginning of its journey in guiding Chinese enterprises towards global expansion by utilizing Huawei Cloud's robust technology, industry expertise, and ecosystem services. To stay competitive when going global, companies need a robust infrastructure and innovative products and models. Localized infrastructure improves service quality and user experience while reducing operational costs and risks.

Frank Dai, President of Huawei Cloud Middle East & Central Asia, and Zhao Liang, Chairman of Huawei Saudi Arabia, delved into the Middle East's business environment, sharing Huawei's innovation history and plans.

The Middle East, steeped in rich history and vibrant culture, has long attracted businesses from around the world. Among the region's countries, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are particularly attractive destinations for Chinese companies seeking to expand their global reach.

To support business expansion, Huawei Cloud Middle East operates two cloud regions and provides over 2,400 cloud services, with 93% 5G coverage in GCC countries. The company fosters cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development with local governments and organizations. Huawei Cloud cultivates a comprehensive ecosystem value network, providing cloud platforms, compliance enablement, and solutions to facilitate digital transformation in FinTech and build Chinese enterprises' brand influence in the region.

Huawei Cloud offers a unified, open architecture and global network via KooVerse, positioning its Saudi Arabia Region as the core cloud region for the Middle East, Central Asia, and Northern Africa. Huawei Cloud also provides a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including MetaStudio, IaaS, cloud-native technologies, cloud databases, Ascend cloud AI computing power center, and serverless multi-cloud management container technologies. In addition, it offers localized, one-stop dedicated services, earning over 130 security compliance certifications. Since its arrival in the Middle East in 2020, Huawei Cloud has served over 200 public sector customers, 30 financial institutions, and 150 high-value Internet and cloud-native companies.

In his opening speech in Shanghai, Frank Dai stated, "Huawei Cloud is committed to collaborating with global enterprises to introduce China's technological innovation to the Middle East and provide better options for customers and partners in the region."

UAE’s remarkable strides in technology
The UAE, a major oil exporter, is thriving in technology and digital transformation, attracting investors and entrepreneurs worldwide. With strategic plans like UAE Centennial 2071, Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, Dubai 2040, and UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the economy is expanding.

Speaking at the event, Abdulla Albasha Alnoaimi, the UAE Commercial Counsellor, said, "The UAE economy exhibits vitality and resilience due to its strategic advantages. UAE has attracted over USD23 billion in foreign direct investment, ranking first in the Arab world.”

Moreover, the chair of Huawei UAE, Ma Jingnan, emphasized Huawei's long history in the country, pointing out that the company has been there for 22 years and is committed to becoming a catalyst for the country's digital development.

Huawei has collaborated with regional businesses like UAE Airlines and Dubai Hydropower Bureau, and its efforts will be in line with the strategic visions of the UAE going forward.

Opportunities in the Middle East across entertainment, finance, and more
Over the past few years, the digital sectors of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Pakistan have seen significant growth. These governments are actively encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.

Frank Dai highlighted the region's potential for the entertainment sector during the roadshow in Hangzhou, saying, "The Middle East is such a hopeful place, and we are ready to accompany you to go the Middle East with our shared practices." He also cited significant growth in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Pakistan's digital sectors, with the UAE leading the Global Entrepreneurship Index with 95% newly registered SMEs. This dynamic sector drives the economy, contributing over half of GDP.

During the roadshow in Beijing, Chinese enterprises were also encouraged to find the right partner for global expansion in the Fintech sector. Chinese enterprises are increasingly attracting investment in the Middle East and Central Asia due to their favorable business environments, high internet penetration rates, and young population.
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has garnered global recognition for its robust financial services products and regulations. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office emphasized, "Abu Dhabi has consistently supported investors and enterprises, fostering an open, prosperous, and sustainable business environment rooted in innovation. Favorable policies such as 100% foreign shareholding, 9% corporate income tax, and 5% value-added tax ensure long-term and sustainable success for enterprises in Abu Dhabi and the entire region."

Abu Dhabi has consistently supported investors and established initiatives like Hub71, ADGM, Masdar, KEZAD, and multiple exchanges to promote FinTech development. These initiatives create numerous investment and business expansion opportunities for Chinese enterprises in the region.

Zhang Xiaojun, Chief Fintech Expert from Huawei Cloud CTO Office, emphasized Huawei's commitment to supporting Chinese enterprises with technical expertise for sustainable growth.

"Huawei has a long-standing commitment to providing technological services in the Middle East," remarked Zhang Xiaojun during his keynote speech. "We are determined to leverage our technical expertise, robust ecosystem, innovative solutions, and cultural understanding to facilitate the rapid and sustainable growth of Chinese enterprises in the Middle East, fostering a win-win collaboration."

The successful Huawei Cloud roadshow epitomizes Huawei Cloud's commitment to seizing opportunities for sharing, co-creation, and win-win partnerships. In the face of a rapidly changing world, Huawei Cloud works with partners to jointly advance digital transformation through technological innovation. This collaboration empowers Chinese enterprises to explore sustainable growth paths and strengthens their competitiveness when venturing globally.

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HUAWEI CLOUD has announced the launch of “Spark”, a new startup ecosystem support program aiming at empowering SMEs to develop their cloud capabilities. This initiative is the first step towards supporting HUAWEI CLOUD partners in line with the recently  launched Oasis Program, where Huawei announced plans to invest USD15 million over the next three years to accelerate the development of technology enterprises and ecosystems in the Middle East.

Spark will support more than 50 SMEs, each will receive up to $15,000 fund support on HUAWEI CLOUD in addition to cloud training during the first phase of the program. A select group of SMEs will then join Spark Accelerate Program, where they will receive further technical support from HUAWEI CLOUD experts to help transform their businesses in the cloud and evolve their offerings.

Frank Dai, President of HUAWEI CLOUD Middle East, said: "SMEs play a prominent role in Middle East economies, where they contribute by far the largest share of national economic output. However, they face unique challenges, including a shortage of a skilled digital workforce and a lack of resources to digitize operations. By empowering more SMEs to succeed through Spark and similar programs, we can jointly cultivate an even stronger technology ecosystem in the Middle East."

SMEs are the backbone of the global economy and are essential contributors to job creation and economic growth. According to the World Bank, small businesses represent about 90% of all businesses worldwide and more than 50% of employment opportunities. In the region, 99% of the Saudi private sector consists of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 70% of the country's workforce. Similarly, the SME sector represents more than 94% of all companies operating in the UAE and provides jobs for more than 86% of the private sector's workforce.

Digitization is a game-changer for the SME sector, contributing to significant revenue boost and business resilience. A whitepaper by UAE's Ministry of Economy revealed that digital technologies had helped 76% of UAE SMEs attract new customers, 65% were able to generate cost savings, and 50% were able to access new markets. For example, 45% of SMEs accepting digital payments recorded an increase in sales averaging +12% and could process payments seven times faster than non-digital payments.

HUAWEI CLOUD delivers a smart experience for people, cities, and enterprises in all scenarios, as part of Huawei's commitment to providing reliable, secure, and cost-effective cloud services to empower applications, and help organizations of all sizes grow in today's intelligent world. To support a wider cloud rollout, Huawei has unveiled several programs to help the region cultivate digital experts and build the local ecosystem. It recently announced a support program for developing 3,000 cloud experts in the region as part of the HUAWEI CLOUD Oasis Program. The Oasis Program includes USD7.5 million to be allocated for partner development, over USD2.5 million to be put behind credits and other cloud resources, and more than USD4.5 million in marketing support for program projects.

According to Gartner1, HUAWEI CLOUD ranks as the No. 5 IaaS cloud service provider globally, with a growth rate exceeding 200% between 2019-2020.