Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In the first episode of a special three-part Business Extra series, host Khaled Abuljebain is joined by Manish Pant, executive vice president for international operations at Schneider Electric, before the Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa.
As populations grow, cities expand and demand for electricity rises, countries across the Global South face the challenge of building energy systems capable of supporting the next generation of economic growth.
Mr Pant explains why that challenge also presents an opportunity. With less reliance on ageing legacy infrastructure, emerging economies can adopt digital technology, intelligent grids and cleaner forms of energy as they build for the future.
The conversation explores what energy resilience means in an increasingly electrified world and how digitalisation can make electricity more visible, controllable and efficient. Mr Pant also discusses the role of AI, including how the technology can help optimise energy use as growing computing demand puts additional pressure on power systems.
The episode also looks at Schneider Electric projects in Egypt and Senegal, the role consumers can play in improving energy efficiency, and why technology developed globally needs to be adapted to the specific conditions of individual markets.
00:00 Opportunities for the Global South
05:34 Future-proofing fast cities
09:05 Resilience and digitised power
13:21 AI data centres and efficiency
18:15 Grid projects
28:28 Value of summits
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Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/TheNationalNews
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In the first episode of a special three-part Business Extra series, host Khaled Abuljebain is joined by Manish Pant, executive vice president for international operations at Schneider Electric, before the Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa.
As populations grow, cities expand and demand for electricity rises, countries across the Global South face the challenge of building energy systems capable of supporting the next generation of economic growth.
Mr Pant explains why that challenge also presents an opportunity. With less reliance on ageing legacy infrastructure, emerging economies can adopt digital technology, intelligent grids and cleaner forms of energy as they build for the future.
The conversation explores what energy resilience means in an increasingly electrified world and how digitalisation can make electricity more visible, controllable and efficient. Mr Pant also discusses the role of AI, including how the technology can help optimise energy use as growing computing demand puts additional pressure on power systems.
The episode also looks at Schneider Electric projects in Egypt and Senegal, the role consumers can play in improving energy efficiency, and why technology developed globally needs to be adapted to the specific conditions of individual markets.
00:00 Opportunities for the Global South
05:34 Future-proofing fast cities
09:05 Resilience and digitised power
13:21 AI data centres and efficiency
18:15 Grid projects
28:28 Value of summits
All the latest news: thenationalnews.com
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/TheNationalNews
Follow us on X: twitter.com/TheNationalNews
Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thenationalnews.com
Follow us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thenationalnews
