Mohamed Mikou
The new decade has got off to a challenging start, pushing humanity to the limit. Almost every aspect of our daily lives has been turned on its head – the way we work, learn, socialise, or shop. And amidst navigating this uncharted landscape, it is all the more vital that we remain committed to the region, and deliver tailored technology solutions to help our customers and communities sustain — all while preparing for a post-pandemic comeback and the new normal.
We have seen years of digital transformation happen in a matter of months, and it is incredible to see how technology has empowered our customers to step up their capacity and maintain business continuity in the world of ‘remote everything’. South Africa’s Gauteng Provincial Government, Kuwait Finance House and the efforts of Ministry of Education in Egypt to empower 20 million students – are some of many examples of how Microsoft technologies and platforms have delivered some semblance of continuity in societies across MEA.
While digital tools are certainly important during this crisis, it is essential to consider upskilling and reskilling around a more digital future to fill in the jobs that will return, as the world recovers. The AI Business School and Cloud Society offer a wide range of courses to help build business and technical acumen in cloud and AI. For educators, Microsoft has joined forces with its partners across the region to roll out free Microsoft Teams training to academic institutions around the country.
The recent weeks have demonstrated the power of human resilience and technology as we adjust. There is still a lot to do, as we shape a new way of life to benefit our society as a whole – that is empowered by innovation and ingenuity to achieve more.
