China’s Huawei wants to leave its tech mark in Kuwait

SHENZHEN, China: Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei said yesterday it hopes to contribute towards Kuwait’s development plans, particularly projects dealing with high-tech smart cities and public services. Huawei has joined forces with a number of reputable companies on a marquee Kuwaiti project to develop the Gulf state’s eastern islands, the global tech firm’s founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei told a gathering of Arab journalists in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. He pinpointed His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s visit to China last year as the catalyst for Huwaei’s foray into development projects in Kuwait. “We look forward to working with Kuwait to help the country bring its goals and ambitions to fruition,” Zhengfei said, pointing out that the telecoms giant is excited about displaying its next-generation tech knowhow in the Gulf state. As part of plans to transform Kuwait into a global technology hub, he said that Kuwait was among the first countries to embrace Huawei’s 5G technology, touted as the “next generation” of mobile communication, which was the result of a deal signed between both sides. Working with Kuwait has been a “productive experience,” he added, describing the market there as significant and fast-growing, highlighting that 5G technology could help spark a digital renaissance in countries eager to explore the breakthrough. He urged oil-rich Gulf nations to make the transition towards a more digital-based economy, warning that the age of oil would “inevitably come to an end.” On US sanctions that threaten to disrupt Huwaei’s smartphone and network equipment businesses, Zhengfei wanted the mobile network to eventually make its way into the US, hoping that early-stage talks with American telecoms firms would allow the company to license its 5G network technology to them. Huwaei’s sales growth has largely remained unaffected after the world’s largest telecoms equipment provider was placed on a US blacklist over national security concerns, banning it from buying American-made parts without a special license. — KUNA