International experts participating in the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) in Rabat called on Wednesday for accelerated, massive investment in digital infrastructure to enable Africa to establish itself as a key player in the global digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
During a key plenary session, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, the Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, showcased his country’s commitment, stating that digitalization now constitutes a “central strategic axis” of its economic policy.
“Côte d’Ivoire has allocated nearly €3 billion, or 3.4% of the 2021-2025 National Development Plan, to digitalization,” Konaté noted. This effort is set to intensify between 2026 and 2030 with plans for over €8 billion dedicated to digital initiatives. The ultimate goal is to increase the digital sector’s contribution to GDP from the current 2% to 12% by 2030.
The Minister highlighted the Ivorian Government’s Digital Acceleration Program, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), emphasizing that transforming the public administration is essential for stimulating innovation and strengthening competitiveness. He stressed two major prerequisites for success: access to reliable energy (indispensable for the data economy) and the development of robust, regionally shareable infrastructure.
Colin Hu, President of Enterprise Business for Huawei North, West, and Central Africa, stated that the continent holds a “historic opportunity” to become a driver of digital innovation, citing Africa’s entrepreneurial dynamism and young human capital.
He argued that Africa must substantially increase its investments by 2030 in crucial digital infrastructure, including fiber optics, data centers, cloud computing, and connectivity networks.
Ousmane Fall, Director of Non-Sovereign Operations and the Private Sector at the African Development Bank (AfDB), reiterated the Bank’s growing commitment to the continent’s digital transformation. He emphasized the critical need for robust regulatory frameworks covering data governance, interoperability, spectrum management, and cybersecurity—all essential for attracting large-scale private investment.
Fall concluded that “A harmonized digital transformation at the regional level will allow Africa to benefit from economies of scale,” which will ultimately strengthen industrialization, innovation, and access to essential services for vulnerable populations.
Organized by Huawei as part of the AIF Market Days 2025, this meeting reinforces the Forum’s central theme: “Closing the Gap: Mobilizing Private Capital to Unleash Africa’s Full Potential.” The AIF, led by the African Development Bank Group and six other founding partners, serves as an investment platform designed to streamline the financing of transformative projects across the continent.
AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA