• DRC minister visited Huawei China center to boost AI training cooperation
• Talks focused on launching a national AI academy for local sector needs
• Initiative builds on earlier Huawei-DRC deal for rural digital connectivity

Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba carried out a working visit on November 10, 2025, to Huawei’s training center in Hangzhou, in the People’s Republic of China, according to a statement from the ministry’s press office.

The mission focused on cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Huawei in artificial intelligence (AI) training, as part of the National Digital Plan 2026–2030 and the country’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Discussions centered on the creation of a Congolese artificial intelligence academy, a government project designed to train specialists, support applied research, and develop solutions tailored to local needs, especially in agriculture, health, and mining.

According to the official communication, Huawei was approached as a technical partner for the project due to its global experience in information and communication technology training, including through the Huawei ICT Competition, an international event that brought together more than 210,000 students and instructors in its latest edition.

This development follows the memorandum of understanding signed on May 23, 2025, between the DRC and Huawei on the “smart village” pilot project, aimed at improving Internet access, connecting local public services, and training young people in digital skills.

Boaz Kabeya, Bankable