By: Robert Kwaku Annor
Côte d’Ivoire has reaffirmed
the strategic role of digital technology in driving economic growth and
supporting the country’s development ambitions under the Côte d’Ivoire 2030
vision.
Speaking during a panel
discussion on infrastructure to support growth at the Investor Day of the
Advisory Group for the financing of the National Development Plan (NDP)
2026-2030, Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation Djibril
Ouattara said digital technology should be viewed as a transformation tool that
cuts across all sectors of the economy.
The Minister highlighted the
progress made by Côte d’Ivoire’s digital sector, including a telecommunications
penetration rate exceeding 130% of the population, mobile coverage reaching
95%, nearly 15 million active internet users and about two million users of
e-commerce platforms.
He also noted that the
country has deployed approximately 38,000 kilometres of optical fibre
infrastructure, including connectivity reaching nearly one million homes,
positioning Côte d’Ivoire among the leading digital economies in sub-Saharan
Africa.
During the engagement with
investors and potential partners, Ouattara outlined the Ministry’s roadmap for
strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem through seven strategic
priorities.
These priorities include
expanding connectivity, accelerating the digitalisation of public
administration, establishing Côte d’Ivoire as a regional technology hub,
promoting artificial intelligence adoption, strengthening digital skills
development, modernising La Poste to support e-commerce growth and reinforcing
cybersecurity.
The Minister said continued
investment and partnerships will be critical to advancing these initiatives and
ensuring that digital transformation contributes to inclusive economic
development.
