True to its mission, which is to assist African countries “in their efforts to achieve economic development and social progress,” the AfDB is signing strategic partnerships to enable every member country to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the ongoing tech revolution. 

On Thursday, September 21, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and American technology giant Google announced the signing of a letter of intent during the Global Africa Business Initiative at the UN General Assembly in New York. The aim is to harness emerging technologies, expand and improve technology infrastructures, and develop talent and skills to accelerate digital transformation on the continent.

"Our journey from a 2% telephony penetration in 1998 to today's era of 4G, 5G, and AI signifies immense progress. With 70% of sub-Saharan Africans under 30, our focus is on catalyzing businesses to create jobs and offer innovative solutions," says AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina (photo, center).

African countries are accelerating digital transformation with various programs and projects. They are multiplying partnerships to this end, and all sectors of activity are being positively impacted. The establishment of ecosystems and regulations to encourage the proliferation and emergence of startups is also at the heart of many governments' actions, fostering collaboration with global technology giants such as Google, Huawei, and Microsoft.

In collaboration with the AfDB, which has already injected more than $1.9 billion into various digital-related projects on the continent, the Mountain View firm will offer, among other things, “technical assistance to bolster entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in digitizing their businesses, securing financing, mastering digital marketing, and advancing private sector development.” 

Adoni Conrad Quenum