Côte d'Ivoire outlines digital leadership ambition at UNGA side event
Date: 2025-09-25
On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Côte d'Ivoire has reiterated its commitment to becoming a regional digital leader during a high-level panel organized by Italy in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event, themed “Bridging the Gaps and Co-Creating the Digital Future,” featured contributions from Kenya, Egypt, Mozambique, and Côte d'Ivoire.
The Director of
Innovation, Start-ups and the Private Sector at the Ministry of Digital
Transition and Digitalization, Stéphane Kounandi Coulibaly, represented Minister Kalil Konaté and
articulated the nation's strategic vision.
“With more than
60% of its population under the age of 25, Africa is not only on the move
towards the digital future, it can be the driving force behind it. Our
government's ambition is clear: to make Côte d'Ivoire an innovation hub and a
digital leader in the sub-region,” Coulibaly
stated.
The panel
highlighted Italy’s support through the Mattei Plan for Africa, including a
recently completed Digital Readiness Assessment that informed Côte d'Ivoire’s
National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (SNIA 2030) and National Data
Governance Strategy (SNGD 2030).
A Memorandum of
Understanding between the two countries could mobilize over 40 million euros
for innovation projects, such as the Ivorian AI Hub, youth digital skills
development, startup support, and digitalization in sustainable development
sectors like smart agriculture and water management.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
