Luis Gouend: High Tech Is One of the Areas Where We Need to Work Closely Together

Participants at this major industry event are discussing, among other things, how to integrate products developed by foreign IT companies into national digital ecosystems without sacrificing technological independence. Luis Gouend, president of the African Business Club in Cameroon, spoke to an IT Russia correspondent about cooperation between Africa and Russia:

– High tech is one of the areas where we need to work closely together. Africa missed the industrialization era, but now the digitalization era is beginning. I think this is the right time to move straight to new technologies, bypassing stages of development that we were unable to complete fully.

Russia has the expertise needed across a range of technology fields, and that expertise can help Africa develop. The African continent has a young and rapidly growing population eager to acquire new knowledge. Digitalization and related technologies are promising areas that attract considerable interest among young people.

At the same time, it is important to us that cooperation with Russia be different from our partnerships with other countries. We do not simply want to purchase ready-made solutions. We want to acquire expertise by establishing joint ventures, opening training centers and organizing internships for young African professionals. This would enable us to develop and upgrade applications and other technology products independently, while working with Russian partners to develop new solutions.

One promising area is business digitalization. In many African countries, companies do not yet make full use of digital tools. Adopting these technologies would simplify management and improve operational efficiency.

Another important area is payment and banking services. In many African countries, banking systems remain underdeveloped, and many people do not have bank cards. In Russia, I saw that people can make payments without a card thanks to the fast payment system. Similar solutions could make person-to-person payments easier in Africa, too.

Payments between large companies are equally important. As economic cooperation between Russia and African countries grows, we need to find reliable ways to settle transactions. Sanctions and restrictions that cut certain organizations off from existing systems are getting in the way. That is why we need to develop alternative payment systems. I am confident that Russian companies have solutions that could be scaled up to support trade and cooperation without relying on third countries.

Telemedicine also has significant potential. Many African countries lack doctors and qualified medical personnel, and people in remote areas cannot always access the care they need. Telemedicine would allow them to consult remotely with qualified specialists in major cities.

Education is another promising area. Digital technologies can make education more accessible and improve learning outcomes. Africa is home to around 1.4 billion people, more than 60% of whom are under 20. That is an enormous audience in need of education and new opportunities to develop.

I hope the professionals who have come to the forum will have the opportunity to meet Russian IT companies and build professional connections. It is important to reach agreements on establishing joint ventures, exchanging interns and, above all, carrying out joint projects in Africa.