Senegal has made significant progress in digital transformation in recent years. To build on this momentum and better meet the needs of its population, the government wants to leverage international expertise.
Last week, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met with several companies on the sidelines of the 79th United General Assembly. The aim of the meetings was to seek partnerships in the digital sector. According to a post on the X (formerly Twitter) account of the Senegakese presidency, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his delegation held productive discussions with leaders from NVIDIA, a global leader in artificial intelligence. Concrete avenues of cooperation were identified to strengthen Senegal's technological ecosystem.
“The president discovered the most advanced AI technologies, applicable in key areas of the National Transformation Agenda 2050: agriculture, education, health, and more. These innovations will enhance our ability to tackle future challenges and position Senegal as a tech hub in Africa,” the presidency indicated.
The president also met with representatives from 500 Global, a worldwide startup investment fund and incubator. This meeting uncovered investment opportunities to support the growth of innovative digital companies in Senegal.
Another significant meeting took place with Ketan Patel, vice president of HP, the American laptop manufacturing company. Discussions centered on the country's ongoing digital transformation and key challenges related to cybersecurity.
Additionally, President Faye visited the facilities of Starlink, a SpaceX subsidiary specializing in satellite connectivity. Talks focused on potential collaboration to deploy this technology, with a particular emphasis on improving connectivity in rural areas.
These various meetings are part of the Senegalese government's ambitious "New Deal Technologique" initiative. This project aims to forge strategic partnerships and position Senegal as a digital hub in Africa. The country hopes to create over 50,000 direct jobs and 160,000 indirect jobs through the digital sector, boosting its contribution to the national economy to more than 10% by 2030.
Samira Njoya
