Namibia to host artificial intelligence forum

Namibia’s higher education minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, last week officially announced the hosting of the Southern Africa sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (SARFAI) by Namibia.The minister, together with UNESCO country representative Djaffar Moussa-Elkadhum, also signed the host country agreement (HCA).The forum will stimulate discourse on the artificial intelligence (AI) policy environment within the Southern African sub-region and fuel reflections for the development of a southern-African framework on AI.SARFAI will take place under the theme ‘Towards a development-oriented sustainable and ethical use of artificial intelligence".The forum is scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 September in Windhoek.Map the way Moussa-Elkadhum said this is the first forum of its kind, and it will be important to set a high standard in terms of the quality of discussions and debate.Nine southern African countries will be represented, but invites have been extended to all African Union countries.The purpose of this forum is to provide a mapping of the development and use of AI in the sub-region and to discuss the key issues of AI as well as the challenges and opportunities of its application in the Southern African context.The forum will also contribute to fostering the African member states’ capacities to leverage digital innovation and transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.Kandjii-Murangi said a task force on the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) was established in July 2021 by Namibian President Hage Geingob. The team has been tasked to conduct an assessment of Namibia’s readiness for 4IR and to determine the influence of new technologies on the future of production."The global economy is expected to grow by US$15 trillion by 2030, and the governments in the global north are better positioned to gain from these benefits than those in the south," she said.The development of artificial intelligence will maximise advantages and address existing problems with infrastructure, as well as human and institutional capability limitations, she added.

Namibia to host artificial intelligence forum

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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Namibia to host artificial intelligence forum

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-11

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