Above: CTU”s Rodney Taylor and Huawei’s Daniel Ding after signing the MOU. Photo courtesy Huawei.

Huawei (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited, part of the Huawei global information and communication technology (ICT) powerhouse, and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11th April 2024 at the 21st Caribbean Ministerial Strategic ICT Seminar, held in San Ignacio, Belize, a CTU Member State. The Seminar was hosted by the CTU in collaboration with Huawei, which was also sponsored the Seminar, was attended by eight ICT Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries and Advisors.

Signed at the close of the Strategic ICT Seminar, the MOU is aligned with the CTU’s key strategies of driving digital transformation efforts among its Member States. Huawei’s aim is to strengthen partnerships such as the one with the CTU to accelerate such digital transformation in the region.

Mr. Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the CTU, and Mr. Daniel Ding, Huawei’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications in Central America and the Caribbean, signed the agreement, under which both parties intend to exchange information and ideas on ICT policies and regulations, undertake joint research on network security, data protection, digital inclusion policies and emerging technologies like 5G and green energy, as well as organise important capacity building activities through meetings, workshops and training interventions, such as the 21st Ministerial Seminar.

Mr. Taylor added that the MOU between the CTU and Huawei marks a pivotal advancement in the CTU’s mission to drive digital transformation across the Caribbean. The agreement will enhance the CTU’s collaborative efforts to address key ICT challenges in the region and symbolises its shared commitment with Huawei to foster a digitally empowered Caribbean that benefits every citizen across the CTU’s 20 Member States.

He continued, “As we move forward, the CTU remains dedicated to advocating for robust, equitable and forward-thinking digital policies that will define the future of our region’s digital landscape.”

Although Huawei has continuously partnered with the CTU for many years, this event also marked Huawei’s first as an official Private Sector Member of the CTU, its membership having been approved by the CTU’s Executive Council at its meeting immediately preceding the Ministerial Seminar.

Speaking following the signing, Mr. Ding said: “Huawei is very happy to have the privilege to work together with the CTU to accelerate ICT development in the region.”

“We have been working with important stakeholders in our industry to build a healthy ecosystem to realise our vision of bringing digital to every home and organisation to build a better-connected and intelligent world. We believe that with the combined efforts of Huawei and the CTU, more people in this region will be able to benefit from the growth catalysed and made possible by ICT development.”

Huawei has been in the Caribbean and Latin America region for 20 years and partners with local operators and partners in providing innovative ICT solutions and services to over 50% of the population in the region.