By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Cabo
Verde has taken a significant step toward strengthening its role in global
digital governance by joining the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute and
committing to the Samarkand Declaration on Tech Diplomacy.
The
development follows a bilateral meeting between the Founder-President of the
Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, Ayumi Moore Aoki, and H.E. Dr. Olavo Avelino
Garcia Correia, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Business
Development, and Minister of Digital Economy of Cabo Verde. The engagement
marked a new phase of cooperation between Cabo Verde and the Institute, aimed
at advancing structured and inclusive approaches to technology diplomacy.
As
part of the agreement, Cabo Verde will become a member state of the Tech
Diplomacy Global Institute and sign the Samarkand Declaration, a global,
non-binding framework designed to support countries in building tech diplomacy
capacity. The declaration provides a neutral platform for nations to appoint
Tech Ambassadors and coordinate policies on digital governance, artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, in collaboration with
UNESCO.
With
this commitment, Cabo Verde is set to become the second African country, after
Kenya, to appoint a Tech Ambassador, and the second Lusophone country,
following Brazil, to take this step. The move positions the country as a
growing voice in shaping technology policy discussions at both regional and
global levels.
The
Samarkand Declaration is anchored on four core principles: institutional
commitment to tech diplomacy, inclusive digital rights and standards,
multilateral coordination, and universal access and participation in shaping
the digital future.
The
Tech Diplomacy Global Institute expressed appreciation to Mayra Silva for
facilitating and organising the engagement and for her role in advancing tech
diplomacy efforts in Cabo Verde.
