Kenya and Armenia are considering expanded bilateral cooperation across digital technologies, education, information and communications technology (ICT), trade and investment following high-level discussions between officials from both countries.

John Kipchumba Tanui, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, hosted Armenia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Sahak Sargsyan, for talks focused on strengthening collaboration in the digital economy.

Artificial intelligence and cloud computing emerged as potential areas for joint cooperation during the engagement. The two countries are examining opportunities for capacity building, policy exchange and joint innovation initiatives as they continue developing their respective technology ecosystems.

Youth digital skills development also featured prominently in the discussions. Tanui highlighted similarities between Armenia’s TUMO Centres for Creative Technologies and Kenya’s Jitume Digital Hubs, both of which provide young people with access to technology-focused learning and skills development.

The similarities between the two programmes could provide an opportunity for greater collaboration. Kenya and Armenia may explore connecting the initiatives through shared curricula, mentorship models and exchanges on implementation practices.

The officials also discussed STEM education, with Kenya seeking to learn from Armenia’s STEM programmes while also sharing experiences from its own education reforms.

A peer-learning approach between the two countries could help strengthen STEM education systems in both countries by allowing them to exchange experiences and lessons from their respective programmes.

Tanui said digital transformation increasingly requires international cooperation, with countries able to accelerate progress by sharing expertise, adapting successful approaches to local conditions and developing joint initiatives.

Following the engagement, Kenya and Armenia are expected to examine concrete programmes in the coming months based on the areas of cooperation identified during the discussions.

Source: techafricanews