(MENAFN) A major cybersecurity and artificial intelligence forum is scheduled to take place in Equatorial Guinea from September 15 to 17, with a central emphasis on “non-Western” strategies for safeguarding digital infrastructure and overseeing international financial transactions, according to the co-chair of the organizing body.

Endorsed by Equatorial Guinea’s President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and his administration, the event seeks to foster conversations about digital and financial independence outside of traditional Western systems.

The forum is designed to amplify perspectives from the Global South and promote sovereignty in technological and economic sectors.

Alexander Ryzhov, who co-chairs the event’s organizing committee, explained to African Initiative that the sessions will concentrate on frameworks tailored to meet the priorities of emerging economies.

These include the protection and resilience of telecommunications, payment networks, and banking platforms.

Ryzhov emphasized that, “The main goal of our forum is to present ‘non-Western’ cybersecurity concepts aimed at protecting the banking, payment, and telecommunications industries.”

The program will delve into areas such as Russia’s approach to securing critical digital infrastructure, trusted digital payment technologies, and data storage through secure cloud systems.

Among the Russian participants expected to attend are state-owned and private sector leaders such as Rosatom, Rostelecom, key financial institutions, cloud computing and IT service providers, the federal body Rossotrudnichestvo, along with energy giants like Gazprom, Rosneft, and Severstal.

International guests also include the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation (UNFSSC), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the BRICS Bank, the Asian-African Fund, and Huawei Technologies Co.

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