The CEO of Smart Africa Lacina Kone has described the just ended
Transform Africa Summit 2023 as a testimony of Africa’s political
commitment in digital development.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the Transform Africa
Summit he said the Transform Africa Summit 2023 was not only
historic because it was the first Transform Africa Summit to take
place outside of Rwanda.
“It was also historic because this Summit has taken the relationship
we have with our members and partners to its highest level ever.”
This year’s summit gathered five Heads of State including a King, 44
ministers and around 4000 delegates from 91 countries.
The summit ended with an MoU signing with the AfCFTA Secretariat
to enhance collaboration in information, communication and
technology to develop a Single Digital Market for Africa within the
African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Smart Africa Trust Alliance (SATA) signed by 8 founding
Member States to connect all systems through a trust framework.
“An MoU between Smart Africa and Internet Society to engage in
activities to connect rural communities. An MoU between Smart
Africa and Hitachi Systems security ltd to assist and support Africa’s
secure digital transformation and to secure the African cyberspace.An
MoU between Smart Africa and Gaia-X European Association for
Data and Cloud AISBL to explore the options for the establishment of
Gaia-X Hub in Africa to be managed by the Smart Africa
Secretariat.A MoU with i4 policy to work on policy reform processes
to foster innovation, digital transformation and to improve the
environment for entrepreneurship. An MoU with the Zhiejang
International Business School to foster capacity building within our
countries.” he said
Rwanda Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire said the
Summit shows that it has been a great development in partnership.
“The Botswana country and Mswati Kingdom are also keen to be
part of Smart Africa, Trans Africa is growing beyond Rwanda and is
coming to cover Africa.
The Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Information Communication
Technology, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti said the
Transform Africa Summit has taught us to work together as a
Continent to find solutions.
“There is a need to work together to collaborate not only African but
other countries together to find solutions.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that ICT in the economy lowers the
level of corruption and can bring up economic development.
“Other countries have done very well in areas of e –governance,
financial inclusion, ICT in school,
Zimbabwe is being proud of the Blue Print of E- Agriculture and it is
a pillar of the Presidents manta of food security and assurance
Smart Africa announced during the investment forum, 7 priority
initiatives aimed at addressing three of the primary bottlenecks
hindering Africa, namely the lack of infrastructure, skilled personnel
and funding.
The 7 priority initiatives are: The Smart Continental Backbone, The
Bulk Purchase Marketplace, The Regional Green Data Center and
Cloud, The Smart Africa Digital Academy (SADA), The Girls in ICT,
the Smart Africa Network of Incubators and Accelerators (SANIA)
and the Smart AfricaTrust Alliance (SATA).
