Nairobi — Investment in Africa’s digital economy has been identified as a critical driver in unlocking cross-border trade and accelerating innovation across the continent.
Speaking during a side event at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said Africa possesses immense potential to develop digital solutions capable of addressing challenges that transcend borders.
Kabogo noted that increased investment in technology and innovation would help African countries strengthen regional trade while creating opportunities for young innovators.
French Minister for AI and Digital Technologies Clara Chappaz said the growing partnership between Europe and Africa would encourage investments aimed at building mutually beneficial digital ecosystems.
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Chappaz emphasized the need for digital technology investments to directly benefit Africa’s youthful population, saying the continent’s future growth depends on empowering young people through innovation and technology.
Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir said Africa stands to gain significantly from the multi-billion-dollar digital economy, noting that over 60 percent of Africa’s population is made up of youth who can benefit from increased digital investments.
At the same time, the Kenya Development Corporation is pushing for legal and policy reforms aimed at protecting intellectual property rights for young innovators while enhancing support for startups, particularly in the digital sector.
Kenya and France also committed to creating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration among young people in the technology space.
The delegation later attended the NOVA GARAGE event, where 15 digital innovators from eight African countries pitched their ideas to potential investors as part of efforts to attract funding and expand Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
