By Ongaga Ongaga
Investment in the digital economy has been identified as a critical driver for unlocking cross-border trade opportunities across Africa.
This comes at a time when policymakers, innovators, and development partners are pushing for deeper collaboration in the technology space.
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Speaking during a side event at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya’s ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said the continent holds immense potential to develop digital solutions capable of addressing challenges that transcend national borders.
He emphasized that African innovators are increasingly positioned to design scalable technologies that can power trade, services, and connectivity across regions.
France’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies Clara Chappaz underscored the importance of a renewed partnership between Europe and Africa, saying emerging investment frameworks should be built on mutual benefit.
She noted that future cooperation must ensure digital investments are structured in ways that directly benefit the continent’s young population, rather than bypassing them.
Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir highlighted Africa’s demographic advantage, noting that nearly 60% of the continent’s population is made up of young people who stand to gain significantly from the expanding digital economy.
She said strategic investments could transform youth potential into innovation, employment, and entrepreneurship.
On the financing side, the Kenya Development Corporation indicated it is advocating for policy reforms to strengthen intellectual property protections for young innovators, while also scaling support for startups in the digital sector.
As part of ongoing collaboration efforts, Kenya and France have also committed to expanding peer-to-peer learning opportunities for young tech innovators, aimed at building skills exchange and cross-border mentorship networks.
The discussions were reinforced during a visit to a NOVA GARAGE event, where 15 digital innovators from eight African countries pitched their solutions to potential investors, highlighting the continent’s growing pipeline of tech-driven entrepreneurship.
