SAN FRANCISCO, November 19, 2024 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- This week, the main development agency of the United Nations (UNDP) and the Italian presidency of the G7, accompanied by a delegation of private sector leaders from the African continent , meet the leaders of the G7 AI in San Francisco, at the invitation of the Consul General of Italy in San Francisco with the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MMIT), InnoVit and CDP. With the UNDP delegation led by Robert Opp, UNDP Digital Director, and that of Italy led by Fausta Bergamotto, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, the objective is clear: we We must bend the arc of AI collectively for the benefit of Africa‘s sustainable development.
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is co-led by UNDP and MMIT (Italy). In line with the G7 Heads of State and Government Declaration, the Hub aims to create innovative partnerships, solutions and investments between the G7 and the African private sector to transform energy, agriculture, health , water, education and training, as well as infrastructure in Africa.
This international conference focused on four key areas of development opportunities: 1) inclusive and representative datasets, including in low-resource languages, 2) developing local AI talent across Africa in countries, 3) green, accessible and affordable IT infrastructure, and 4) enabling environments for responsible adoption of AI.
In 1945, when the United Nations Charter was drafted in San Francisco, history gave birth to the United Nations. Today, this international conference lays the foundations for anchoring sustainable development at the heart of the private AI sector, both globally and in Africa. It aims to collectively go beyond goodwill and commitments to establish effective and scalable partnerships with the private sector, with a view to industrial growth based on AI, in which Africa will be a full partner for the years to come.
Officials from the Italian government, UNDP and the Silicon Valley investment community commented on the importance of the special event of the Italian G7 Presidency:
Vincenzo Del Monaco, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy and co-chair of the G7 working group on digital and technology:
“In the spirit of the Mattei Italy-Africa plan, we must ensure that AI is an opportunity for equal partnership with Africa. The AI Hub is a space for collective action where the G7 and African industry play a central role.
Keyzom Massally, Head of Digital and AI Programs, UNDP:
“Sustainable development faces multidimensional crises of confidence and innovations that do not place humans at the center of artificial intelligence. Building on G7 countries’ AI commitments, we must come together in shared spaces to understand, learn and co-create, and move beyond the status quo in global AI development. This is the objective of the Artificial Intelligence Hub for Sustainable Development. Coming to San Francisco with African private sector leaders proves that we must go beyond dialogue and impact people for large-scale development.”
Ali Diallo, CEO and founder of Aurion Capital:
“With Aurion Capital, we are raising capital to invest in AI-enabled companies that support rural and emerging economies. At the same time, we educate local stakeholders on how to attract the right types of investments in the form of public, private and institutional capital to solve challenges in key sectors such as healthcare and energy. Our funds are committed to supporting startups and innovation-driven companies that are building transformational digital solutions that strengthen the footprint of America and its allies on the global stage. Investing in critical digital infrastructure in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape requires strong collaborations among all stakeholders. As a result, we are seeing significant interest from U.S. investors and businesses to build stronger bridges between rural America and markets
international countries such as Italy and Africa. This is enabled through partnerships with local entrepreneurs and government agencies to ensure long-term growth and sustainability.”
Notable African leaders working at the national level for development at the international conference include: Tonee Ndungu, founder of Kytabu; Alex Tsado, founder and CEO of Ahura AI; Houda Ghozzi, CEO of Open Startup International; Daniel Boateng, Venture Talent Specialist, The Future List; and Sam Yala, President of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for Aurion Capital.
About the international conference: Growing Together – Innovitsf
About UNDP: https://www.undp.org/en/about-us
About the Artificial Intelligence Center for Sustainable Development: https://www.aihubfordevelopment.org/about
About Aurion Capital:
Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-11-19 15:40:00
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How is Aurion Capital leveraging AI to tackle challenges in rural and emerging economies?
**Interview with Ali Diallo, CEO of Aurion Capital**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ali. It’s exciting to hear about Aurion Capital’s role in investing in AI-enabled companies, particularly those that support rural and emerging economies. Can you elaborate on why you believe this investment focus is essential right now?
**Ali Diallo:** Thank you for having me. Investing in AI-enabled companies, especially in rural and emerging economies, is crucial at this juncture due to the unique challenges these regions face. They often lack access to essential services like healthcare and energy, and AI has the potential to transform those sectors dramatically. By elevating these local economies and providing sustainable solutions, we can create a much stronger global digital ecosystem.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned educating local stakeholders to attract various types of investments. Could you share more about this initiative and its significance?
**Ali Diallo:** Absolutely. Our approach isn’t just to invest capital but to empower local stakeholders — entrepreneurs and government agencies alike. We focus on educating them on how to attract public, private, and institutional investments. This knowledge is vital because it ensures that the community can sustain growth and innovation independently in the long run, rather than relying solely on external sources.
**Interviewer:** There seems to be growing interest from U.S. investors in connecting rural America with countries like Italy and nations across Africa. What do you attribute to this trend?
**Ali Diallo:** This interest is largely driven by a recognition of the potential within these markets. U.S. investors are beginning to see rural America and its parallel industries in emerging countries as fertile ground for innovation. Collaborative partnerships enable us to leverage resources and ideas that benefit both sides. By fostering these connections, we can facilitate transformative growth aligned with global development goals.
**Interviewer:** At the recent international conference, a range of noted African leaders participated. How important is this collaboration between African leaders and international stakeholders for achieving sustainable development?
**Ali Diallo:** Collaboration is vital. It’s about creating a synergy where African leaders can share insights on their unique challenges, while international stakeholders bring in experiences and resources from their own regions. This cross-pollination of ideas fosters innovative solutions that are culturally and contextually relevant, ensuring that development initiatives are sustainable and impactful.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what is Aurion Capital’s long-term vision for the future of investment in AI and rural economies?
**Ali Diallo:** Our vision is to create a robust network of interconnected economies where AI drives progress in every aspect of life — from healthcare to education and agriculture. We aim to empower local communities with the tools and knowledge they need to be self-reliant and innovative. Ultimately, we believe that sustainable investments can build resilience and unlock the vast potential of these regions on the global stage.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ali, for sharing your insights today. It’s clear that Aurion Capital is making significant strides toward fostering sustainable development through innovative investments.
**Ali Diallo:** Thank you for the opportunity. Together, we can make a real difference.
