Saudi Communications Minister: Investing in Technology, Science Our Way towards Zero Emissions

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha speaks at the forum. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha speaks at the forum. (SPA)
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Saudi Communications Minister: Investing in Technology, Science Our Way towards Zero Emissions

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha speaks at the forum. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha speaks at the forum. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Space Commission, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha stressed that the Kingdom, as one of the G20 Member States and a major source of energy in the world, is taking the lead in building a center for climate technologies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Al-Swaha made his remarks on Saturday during his participation in a panel discussion, "How will the green economy change the world in the future", as part the Saudi Green Initiative forum.

He said that the world must rally around supporting science and technology if it wanted to address climate change.

“If the world continues to follow the current policies and technologies, our zero-emissions efficiency will be 30-40% lower, and the only way to address the zero-emissions gap is to increase investment in new, widespread technologies,” he urged.

Moreover, Al-Swaha highlighted how drones can plant trees ten times faster than traditional methods and at a lower cost 20% of the cost of manual farming.

He also underscored the most important lessons learned in the early stages of using technology in the climate field, using artificial intelligence and drones to support and accelerate reforestation, and the extent of the success of such technologies in all regions of the world.

The minister underlined the ways of success of afforestation projects and how trees can best be used to combat climate change, citing the importance of international cooperation that can ensure a rapid, comprehensive expansion of the cultivation of trees that are also planted specifically in low afforestation areas of the world in order to combat desertification.



Huawei Eyes Greater Role in Brazil Data Center Market

Huawei logo is seen during Munich Auto Show, IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2021. (Reuters)
Huawei logo is seen during Munich Auto Show, IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2021. (Reuters)
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Huawei Eyes Greater Role in Brazil Data Center Market

Huawei logo is seen during Munich Auto Show, IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2021. (Reuters)
Huawei logo is seen during Munich Auto Show, IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2021. (Reuters)

Chinese tech giant Huawei is interested in strengthening and improving its capacity as a supplier of data center solutions, it said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday, clarifying that it did not intend to invest directly in data centers.

Reuters had reported on Wednesday that Huawei was interested in Brazil's data center market but was waiting on the government to roll out a tax-break plan.

"We want the government to implement these incentives, which are good for the country, and the time has to be now," Atilio Rulli, Huawei vice president of public relations for Latin America and the Caribbean, told Reuters.

The government's plan to dole out tax breaks for tech investments in Brazil is set to be sent to Congress soon, a finance ministry adviser said last month.

Latin America's largest economy is looking to establish a foothold in the fast-growing data center industry, pulling from its ample renewable energy.

The country is already courting major investments from firms such as ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, Reuters has reported.

Huawei could provide connectivity, storage and energy for data centers, Rulli said, speaking on the sidelines of an event hosted by state development bank BNDES.

"Huawei continues to follow the incentive policy being conducted by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, and when in force, will continue to contribute reliable, scalable and sustainable solutions to accelerate the digital transformation in Brazil and Latin America," Huawei said in the statement on Thursday.