New Cognito CEO Sérgio Lopes stated that investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitalization in Angola is still "practically nonexistent." The statement was made during his speech at Jornal Expansão's VIII Telecom Forum, held in Luanda.
According to the official, many Angolan companies continue to treat digital transformation as a luxury or future trend, when it should be seen as an immediate and strategic necessity. "We are living in a new technological era, but Angola is not yet investing consistently to keep up with this pace," he warned.
Sérgio Lopes highlighted the lack of strong public policies, lack of funding, and a shortage of specialized personnel as factors hindering the implementation of AI-based solutions. He believes this delay could jeopardize the country's competitiveness compared to other African economies.
The CEO stressed that the adoption of smart technology can bring significant gains in productivity, digital security, and cost reduction, especially in the banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and public administration sectors.
Despite the current scenario, Sérgio Lopes expressed optimism about the potential for growth, provided there is greater openness in the private sector and institutional support. "It's not just about buying technology, but about creating an ecosystem that allows the country to innovate and compete," he emphasized.
New Cognito, the company he leads, specializes in cybersecurity, data management, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, and expects to reach €26 million in revenue this year, with the goal of reaching €50 million by 2027.
