Under the motto "For a digital society," the 19th International Computer Science Convention and Fair 2024 concluded today at the Conference Center in Havana.
Wilfredo González Vidal, First Vice Minister of Communications, stated during the closing ceremony that the event enabled progress toward digital transformation, based on economic development and meeting the needs of the people.
He noted that more than 1,000 delegates and exhibitors from 22 countries participated, resulting in a broad scientific and technological discussion.
Nine events were successfully held, as well as roundtables, technical panels, workshops, and keynote addresses in both in-person and virtual formats, he added.
Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the fifth-generation (5G) network, and digital transformation were topics that captured the attention of attendees, the First Vice Minister stated.
Priority was given to university-business ties in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, which demonstrates the value of higher education institutions and scientific centers in the necessary effort to train experts as an essential resource in the digital transformation.
Regarding the Fair, which this year returned to its usual location at the Pabexpo fairgrounds, González Vidal commented that businesspeople exchanged products, services, and best practices, and established alliances and business opportunities.
The exhibition section was attended by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, and Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, along with other state and government officials.
González Vidal considered the visits by the country's IT leadership to be an expression of the will to promote ICT in pursuit of the nation's socioeconomic development priorities and objectives.
Products and services were displayed at 49 booths, including 37 national booths and a dozen foreign booths from Germany, Canada, China, Spain, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Russia, Suriname, and Venezuela.
State institutions, universities, science, technology, and innovation organizations, and, for the first time, non-state management organizations participated from Cuba.
The 2024 IT Fair coincided with the Third Patria International Colloquium, as part of Cuba's decision to use ICTs for social communication and government management to solve everyday problems in society, the First Deputy Minister stated.
Even in limited economic conditions, Cuba demonstrates its determination to bring technology to the population and establish and develop the IT industry, utilizing its most valuable resource: human capital, he asserted.
He called for participation in the 20th International Convention and Fair, IT 2026, to be held from March 23 to 27, 2026, at the Convention Center and Pabexpo.
At the closing ceremony, special awards and recognitions were presented to the Information Technology Company (ETI), the University of Computer Sciences, the Ministry of Justice, the Havana Science and Technology Park, the Central Bank of Cuba, the Information Technology Company for Defense (Xetid), and the Applications, Technologies, and Systems Development Entity (Datys).
Economic players Ingenius, Avangenio, Guajiritos, Pyxel, and Dofleini also received awards.
Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic, and Mayra Arevich Marín, Minister of Communications, presided over the closing ceremony.