AMD On Track with Developing Nations, Says African Scholar
11/4/2005

Theogen Rudaswinga

Why should AMD care about developing nations in Africa and the rest of the world?

That was the question Dr. Theogene Rudasingwa, a physician, politician and former Rwandan ambassador to the United States, and currently a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, posed to employees at a "Viewpoint" session he hosted during a recent visit to AMD Sunnyvale.

Most people, when they think of Africa, think of what they see or hear on the news-a region besieged by poverty, genocide, corrupt governments, extreme climactic conditions and infectious diseases, Theogene said. But each of these 'problems,' according to Theogene, is also an opportunity for Africans and the rest of the world to help the region overcome its past and build a sustainable future.

"And as globalization garners momentum in today's integrated world, it is therefore very important for multinational companies like AMD to care about developing nations," Theogene said in answer to his earlier question. "First, because AMD is a company of individuals who have passions and a moral and social inclination to help. But just as important, it makes compelling business sense for AMD to look ahead 20 to 30 years from now, and realize the powerful long-term potential of Africa's human capital development, its rich natural resources and strong growth opportunities in manufacturing, services and infrastructure development."

And this potential can truly be harnessed through business and technology, rather than charity, according to Theogene. The traditional international response to Africa's problems has been to "give more money" he said, but given the region's weak socio-economic structure, more money has not translated into a positive outcome.

Instead, Theogene argued, if companies like AMD begin by investing in and providing affordable business and technological solutions to support health, education, infrastructure in developing nations, that will enable regional companies to gain a competitive advantage. This advantage will in turn benefit companies like AMD by creating demand for more sophisticated business and technology solutions, and ultimately have a positive impact on their bottom line.

Theogene has been a vocal advocate of using business and technology as tools to bridge the critical information divide in developing nations, a topic he is currently researching as part of the African Technology Program at UC Berkeley. He previously spoke on this topic during a panel discussion on AMD's 50x15 initiative in Austin featuring Chairman, President and CEO Hector Ruiz, and hosted by Fortune editor David Kirkpatrick (click here to view a webcast of the event).

Theogene commended AMD for demonstrating a strategic long-term vision with its 50x15 initiative, aimed at providing affordable Internet access to 50 percent of the global population by 2015. "We cannot underestimate the power of individuals and companies together, especially when they aspire to do good things," he concluded.