Published
June 17, 2024
This month, in the heart of Silicon Valley, leaders from the U.S. Chamber, U.S. and African business communities, and the governments of the U.S. and Côte D’Ivoire met to discuss Côte d'Ivoire’s ongoing digital transformation.
Through discussions and site visits, including to Google’s iconic Mountain View headquarters, the event enlightened attendees about the growing opportunities for public-private collaboration and tech investment in Côte d'Ivoire and the wider West Africa region. These public-private partnerships will unlock further innovation, help bridge Africa’s digital divide, and foster growth for U.S. and Ivorian businesses of all sizes.
The conference highlighted the vast opportunities awaiting businesses interested in expanding into Côte d'Ivoire, ways to increase U.S. exports to and investment in the country, and showcased new digital tools that can help new market entrants better understand Africa’s competitive, legal, and socio-economic landscapes.
Such topics of conversation were relevant to understanding the Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization’s National Digital Development Strategy 2021-2025, which is designed to advance innovation, digital infrastructure, and ensure digital trust among people and businesses. The plan is purposefully organized into seven pillars: Digital Infrastructure, Digital Services, Digital Financial Services, Digital Skills, Digital Business Environment, Innovation, Cybersecurity and Digital Confidence.
Notably, Cybastion, a board member company of the Chamber’s U.S.-Africa Business Center, is supporting Cote d’Ivoire in this journey with a variety of projects, including building its forthcoming national data center, the eGov platform, and a smart city center.
The event featured remarks by Dr. Eugene Aka Aoule, President of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council of Côte d’Ivoire, lead of the Ivorian delegation, the U.S. Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Jessica Davis Ba, and Charles Murito, Google’s Regional Director for Sub Saharan Africa Government Affairs and Public Policy. Google’s Karen Fiester, Director for the Americas and Global Go-to-Market for Google Startups, also delivered a presentation of the Grow with Google Program, an initiative leveraging public-private partnerships to equip global businesses with digital tools and training.
Concluding the programming, Vice President of the U.S.-Africa Business Center, Dr. Guevera Yao, moderated a Q&A discussion about harnessing the power of digital transformation for economic development in Côte d’Ivoire.
A key component of Côte d'Ivoire’s digital development is the country’s Digital Acceleration Zero Paper 2030, which lays out a plan to leverage $600 million in investment from partners like the World Bank, African Development Bank Group, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the private sector.
These investments will improve and expand safe, inclusive access to e-government services, digitize many government services, promote resilient digital infrastructure, establish three new technology universities, and increase broadband access and rural connectivity.
The steadfast commitment to enhancing digital transformation can be seen throughout the continent and was a key focus of the recent U.S. Chamber-hosted U.S.-Kenya Business Forum. On two stages, U.S. and Kenyan government and business leaders inked at least 10 significant digital transformation deals, while Kenyan President William Ruto and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed Kenya’s vibrant technology ecosystem, which has fittingly earned the nickname “Silicon Savannah.”
In 2022, at the Chamber-hosted U.S.-Africa Business Forum, President Biden launched the Digital Transformation with Africa initiative to ensure that every person on the continent will be digitally connected by 2030.
The Chamber remains dedicated to supporting Africa’s digital transformation. With its commitment to planting the seeds of tech entrepreneurship, growing the digital sector, and digitalizing its national economy, the Chamber has a strong and capable partner in Côte d'Ivoire.
Building Bridges in Africa
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