Côte d'Ivoire and China have maintained strong bilateral relations across various fields for several decades. Recently, the two countries decided to strengthen their cooperation in the digital sector.

Chinese tech firm Huawei will train 1000 Ivorians by 2035– at the rate of 100 yearly– in digital skills. This initiative stems from a memorandum of understanding signed on Tuesday, July 30, between the Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization and Huawei, on the sidelines of the China-Africa Digital Cooperation Forum recently held in Beijing, China. Training will cover areas such as data center management and cybersecurity.

"China has made significant technological advancements. It is crucial for us, African countries aiming for acceptable development levels, to pursue enhanced cooperation with them," stated Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, the Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization.

The partnership aligns with the objectives of the China-Africa forum to deepen digital cooperation between the two parties. It follows a meeting a few months ago between Terry He, Huawei's president for the Africa region, and Ibrahim Kalil Konaté in Abidjan. During this March meeting, the Chinese tech company reaffirmed its commitment to support Côte d'Ivoire in achieving its digital projects.

This new partnership will benefit Côte d'Ivoire, which launched the construction of its national data center, the largest in West Africa, in December. This Tier 3 certified facility will cover an area of 20,000 square meters and boast an impressive capacity of 220,000 terabits.

The training is expected to enhance local expertise in managing this national asset and support the country's digital development by offering growth and innovation opportunities. Côte d'Ivoire aims to become the digital hub of West Africa by 2025.

Samira Njoya