Many African countries are making digital transformation a cornerstone of their socioeconomic development strategies. To achieve their ambitions, they are increasingly relying on regional and international partnerships.
Togo and Côte d'Ivoire are looking to strengthen their collaboration on digital transformation. The topic was discussed during a meeting Thursday between Togo’s Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, Cina Lawson, and her Ivorian counterpart, Kalil Konaté, who was on a working visit to Lomé.
The discussions covered key areas such as electronic communications regulation, digital innovation, infrastructure improvement, cybersecurity, digital resilience, and the protection of critical digital infrastructure.
The meeting reflects both countries’ ambitions for digital transformation. Togo’s “Togo Digital Strategy” aims to establish the country as a leading digital hub while improving citizens' quality of life through digital services. Ivory Coast’s digital agenda centers on boosting national economic growth by expanding digital services and making everyday life easier.
A joint study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Google projects Africa’s digital economy will reach at least $712 billion by 2050, representing 8.5% of the continent’s GDP. The World Bank estimates Ivory Coast's digital economy could generate over $20 billion by 2050, contingent on increased public and private investment in five key pillars of digital development.
Currently, Togo lags in digital governance. The 2024 UN E-Government Development Index gave Togo a score of 0.3920 out of 1, below the West African average (0.3957), the African average (0.4247), and the global average (0.6382). Ivory Coast, ranked 124th globally with a score of 0.5587, performs better than regional averages but remains below the global benchmark.
In cybersecurity, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ranked Togo and Ivory Coast in Tiers 2 and 3, respectively, in its 2024 Global Security Index, highlighting the need for improved digital security measures in both countries.
By Isaac K. Kassouwi,
Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji
