Digital Cooperation: Côte d'Ivoire Explores New Opportunities in India

Côte d’Ivoire, firmly committed to becoming a major technology hub in West Africa, is multiplying initiatives to achieve this goal. In line with this vision, the Village of Information Technologies and Biotechnology (VITIB), the country’s main technology hub, has undertaken a series of strategic meetings in India since March 5, 2025.

These meetings aim to promote the Grand-Bassam Free Zone, dedicated to boosting foreign investment in digital technologies and biotechnology. The ambition is to strengthen cooperation with key industry players in India by establishing strategic partnerships to facilitate technology transfer, develop local skills, and accelerate the country's digital transformation.

This initiative is part of Côte d'Ivoire’s strategy for economic diversification and ambitious digital transformation. For the year 2025, Ivorian authorities have allocated a budget of 60.78 billion FCFA (approximately $96.8 million USD) to the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization. These resources are intended to improve connectivity, provide equitable access to technology, promote digital skills, and support the inclusion of youth and women in the digital sector.

Moreover, Côte d'Ivoire has been recognized by the United Nations for the quality of its telecommunications infrastructure, ranking among the countries with a high infrastructure index. The country scored 0.6693 out of 1, well above the African average of 0.4534, according to the "E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development."

To further strengthen its digital ecosystem, Côte d'Ivoire has launched large-scale projects, including the construction of a data center at the VITIB technology park in Grand-Bassam. This center, developed by the pan-African cloud service provider ST Digital, covers an area of 4,000 m² and will offer various digital services.

These efforts reflect Côte d'Ivoire’s determination to position itself as a technological leader in West Africa, by attracting foreign investments, strengthening its digital infrastructure, and promoting digital inclusion for its population.