Chadian authorities are looking to position digital technology as a key driver of the country’s socioeconomic development. To achieve this, N’Djamena is relying on international cooperation.

The Chadian government is exploring a partnership with India to bolster its digital economy. Discussions focused on this potential collaboration took place Friday between Chad’s Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization, Boukar Michel, and India’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Central and East Africa, Sevela Naik Mude.

The talks centered on three key areas: training Chadian engineers in artificial intelligence (AI), supporting the National School of Information and Communication Technologies (ENASTIC) with specialized training for students and faculty, and accelerating the digitization of postal services, including a proposed postal bank.

Chadian officials see India as a global leader in digital technology. India ranks 97th out of 193 countries on the UN’s e-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.6678 out of 1, surpassing the global average of 0.6382. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also recognizes India for its cybersecurity expertise.

Chad hopes to leverage India’s experience to make digital technology a driver of socioeconomic development. In December 2024, the government launched the $122.3 million (76.45 billion CFA francs) World Bank-funded Digital Transformation Support Project (PATN). Chad’s current EGDI score of 0.1785 lags behind the Central African regional average (0.3354), the African continent (0.4247), and the global benchmark. The country’s cybersecurity classification is Tier 4 out of five.

Discussions between Chad and India are in their early stages, and no firm commitments have been made. However, both sides expressed interest in formalizing the partnership through a memorandum of understanding. No timeline has been announced.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji