• Côte d’Ivoire signed two MoUs with UAE’s G42 Presight to support digital governance and strategy renewal

• The deal comes as the current digital plan nears its 2025 end, after major infrastructure gains

• Partnership aims to enhance AI use and public service efficiency, leveraging G42’s regional expertise

The Ivorian government has signed two non-binding memoranda of understanding with G42 Presight, an Emirati tech firm specializing in big data analytics and artificial intelligence. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the inaugural Ivoire Tech Forum, held in Abidjan from July 9 to July 11.

One agreement establishes a collaborative framework for public administration reform and digitalization, signed with the Ministry of State in charge of Civil Service and Administrative Modernization. The second involves developing a national digital strategy, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization.

This initiative comes as Côte d’Ivoire’s National Digital Development Strategy (SNDN) is set to expire this year. Launched five years ago, the SNDN aimed to strengthen digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure development. Its achievements include deploying over 5,207 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, creating several online public service portals, and operationalizing the National Cybersecurity Agency.

In artificial intelligence, the country also adopted a dedicated data management strategy. This strategy aims to build a more efficient, accessible, and resilient administration capable of addressing the challenges of 21st-century digital governance.

While non-binding, these agreements lay the groundwork for stronger technological cooperation between Abidjan and Abu Dhabi. Through this partnership, Côte d’Ivoire seeks to leverage the expertise of G42 Presight, which has previously supported projects in Egypt and Rwanda in big data, AI, and smart governance. The goal is to improve the quality of public services, increase transparency in public action, and enhance state decision-making.

Samira Njoya