AI Summit Positions India as Global South Leader, Says Cuban Minister

Bengaluru: The AI Impact Summit 2026 has positioned India at the forefront of a human-centric artificial intelligence movement representing the Global South, with Cuba strongly endorsing New Delhi’s vision for equitable, inclusive and risk-aware technology development.

Speaking at the India–Cuba IT Council launch in Bengaluru on Saturday, Cuba’s Minister of Communications H.E. Mayra Arevich Marin described the New Delhi summit, held on February 19 and 20, as a landmark moment in global technology discourse. The gathering marked the first time a major AI conference of such scale had been hosted in the Global South, with deliberations reflecting an emerging consensus among world leaders on responsible AI development.

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“Artificial intelligence is extremely important for development, but we must reduce the risks associated with its use. It must be implemented responsibly and equitably,” Marin said, emphasising that innovation and regulation must advance together. She thanked the Indian government for inviting the Cuban delegation and noted that discussions, including those involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlined the necessity of safeguarding societies while promoting inclusive growth.

The Minister identified three core pillars emerging from the summit — people, development and planet — forming what she described as a human-centric AI framework. These principles, she said, encapsulate India’s vision of leveraging emerging technologies for social inclusion and environmental sustainability rather than allowing them to widen global inequalities. “India’s approach demonstrates a clear willingness to support developing countries in accessing advanced technologies through cooperation and shared growth,” Marin added, noting how this resonates with Cuba’s own digital transformation priorities.

Strengthening Bilateral Tech Partnership

On the summit sidelines, the Cuban delegation met with India’s Minister of State for Communications, Information Technology and Biotechnology to review bilateral cooperation. Both sides revisited the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Cuba and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, discussing steps to operationalise it. The Bengaluru launch of the India–Cuba IT Council represents a concrete outcome, aimed at translating policy dialogue into practical collaboration across information technology, telecommunications and biotechnology.

H.E. Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to India, said Havana had deliberately returned with a high-level delegation to deepen engagement in sectors central to Cuba’s development strategy. Describing interactions with Indian stakeholders as constructive, he noted broad agreement to strengthen cooperation in areas aligning with Cuba’s reform priorities and India’s technological strengths.

Bengaluru Engagements and Investment Opportunities

The delegation travelled to Bengaluru, India’s leading technology hub, where they met industry leaders, explored partnerships with local companies, and held discussions with Karnataka’s Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology on state-level collaboration. The Ambassador said these meetings helped identify mutual interests in digital infrastructure, innovation-led entrepreneurship, biotechnology research, startup incubation, and partnerships between technology parks and research institutions.

Cuban delegates also presented investment opportunities encouraging Indian participation in joint ventures across strategic sectors of the Cuban economy, signalling a broader push to strengthen long-term economic ties.

Historical Ties and Future Vision

Recalling bilateral relations dating to 1959, when Che Guevara visited India soon after the Cuban Revolution, the Ambassador noted that in 1960, Fidel Castro met Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in New York, laying a partnership foundation rooted in solidarity. As both nations mark 66 years of diplomatic relations, he expressed confidence that AI-driven engagements would expand cooperation beyond politics into trade, finance and innovation ecosystems.

Marin, reflecting on her Bengaluru visit, praised the region’s technological dynamism and the role of young professionals, including women, in driving India’s ICT growth. She invited Indian entrepreneurs to partner with Cuba, stating, “This is the first step, but not the only one.”

The event was attended by Asif Iqbal, President of the United Diplomatic Council, along with representatives of Cuban innovation hubs and science parks. With AI as the new focal point, both sides expressed optimism that the summit would mark the beginning of a more structured, investment-oriented and innovation-led chapter in India–Cuba relations.