After several years of declining funding, the African end of the Belt and Road Initiative seems to be roaring back. The newest Griffith University/Green Development Finance Center data on the Belt and Road Initiative shows that engagement with Africa jumped by 395%, while a few big projects boosted engagement in Nigeria alone more than twelvefold.
These shifts indicate a window of opportunity for African electrification. 60% of Africans still ...
Category: Artificial Intelligence
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese Mining Company CMOC Urges Congo to Lift Cobalt Ban
The Chinese mining company CMOC has called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to lift its export ban on cobalt. The country imposed a four-month ban on exports in the hope of raising prices. The ban is scheduled to expire next month. CMOC’s Vice President ...
As Bolt and Uber Dominate, Kenyan Startup Pushes Local Alternatives
Ride-hailing in Africa has long been dominated by global giants like Uber and Bolt—especially in Kenya, East Africa’s tech innovation hub. But as the electric vehicle movement gathers momentum, a new wave of local startups ...
AI in Kenyan EVs Playing Catch-up to Chinese Tech
Kenya is still a long way from being a leader in Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption, but despite the slow pace, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating as this transformation takes shape. ...
Vietnam Seeks Science and Technology Cooperation with China Ahead of Xi Jinping’s Visit
Vietnam is actively seeking cooperation in science and technology with China, focusing on human resource training, technology transfer, and capital support, said Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam on Monday. ...
China’s AI-Powered Translation System Speeds Myanmar’s Earthquake Rescue Efforts
China launched an AI-powered translation platform based on its DeepSeek system after the deadly earthquake in Myanmar. The platform was critical in bridging communication gaps and supporting rapid rescue operations. Developed in just seven hours, the platform ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
WEEK IN REVIEW: DRC Considers Extending Cobalt Export Ban as Prices Soar
The Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD reportedly plans to double its annual sales outside of China to more than 800,000 cars in 2025. The company’s chairperson, Wang Chuanfu, said it plans to evade tariffs by expanding local assembling and that it sees “great opportunities” in Latin America and ...
Chinese AI, Automotive Tech Poised to Sweep Across Global South
When the Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer launched DeepSeek on January 20th, the global AI market for large language model (LLM) systems was turned upside down. Investors dumped nearly a trillion dollars of tech stocks in the U.S., panicked by the prospect ...
Navigating the U.S.-China AI Competition: An African Perspective
Amid the emerging rivalry between the U.S. and China for AI supremacy, African countries must strategically position themselves to capitalize on technological advancements across various economic sectors. Artificial Intelligence is crucial for African countries and, ultimately, the continent's transformation, fulfilling the ...
Nvidia Teams Up With Vietnam on AI Amid U.S.-China Tensions
Nvidia, the U.S. maker of advanced computer chips, signed an agreement to set up an advanced research and development center dedicated to artificial intelligence in Vietnam. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia said in a statement: “We are delighted to open ...
Why Indonesia Courts China For AI Collaboration and How to Make the Most of It
Earlier this year, the Indonesian government declared its intention to bolster collaboration with China in advancing its national artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. Nezar Patria, Deputy Minister of Kominfo, said that working together with many countries on the national AI ecosystem “will strengthen Indonesia's position in free ...