The President of the Republic of Senegal, HE Bassirou Diomaye Faye, accompanied by the Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, Mr. Alioune Sall, made a historic visit to Silicon Valley on Friday September 27, 2024. This visit marks a key step in the implementation of Senegal’s new digital strategy: the New Technological Deal.
The Senegalese delegation met with several world leaders, including Google, META, NVIDIA and 500 Global, with the objective of laying the foundations for technological sovereignty and a successful digital ecosystem. Senegal thus aspires to position itself as a catalyst for digital innovation in Africa, through the establishment of strategic, technical and financial partnerships.
One of the notable agreements of this visit was the signing of a historic protocol with Google for the creation of a sovereign cloud, a first in West Africa. This infrastructure will make it possible to secure sensitive data and meet the growing needs of Senegalese and African administrations and businesses. The project also includes the creation of a supercomputer with sub-regional vocation in collaboration with NVIDIA, world leader in artificial intelligence.
At the heart of this digital strategy, the Technological New Deal aims to democratize access to the Internet for all Senegalese citizens, particularly in rural and border areas. The President of the Republic reaffirmed, during the 79th United Nations Summit, the importance of constitutionalizing the right of access to the Internet, making universal connectivity a central pillar of the country’s digital transformation.
Minister Alioune Sall has initiated discussions with global operators such as Google and Starlink to offer a fast, reliable and low-cost connection throughout the national territory. These initiatives will help reduce the digital divide and facilitate access to essential public services through the Internet.
The development of digital skills is another priority of the Technological New Deal. In partnership with Google, a training program in Cloud, AI and cybersecurity will be set up to develop the Senegalese talent pool. Discussions with META and NVIDIA also aim to accelerate the digitalization of public administration and strengthen local expertise in artificial intelligence.
Senegal wishes to position itself as an innovation hub within ECOWAS, thus creating unique opportunities for Senegalese youth and technological entrepreneurs. To this end, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Google to offer Senegalese startups and SMEs privileged access to technological solutions such as the Cloud and cybersecurity.
During a roundtable with 500 Global and other venture capital funds like AURION Capital, discussions were held to facilitate the financing of innovative startups and SMEs. These efforts aim to strengthen technological entrepreneurship and create a dynamic ecosystem capable of meeting the major digital challenges of the African continent.
An inclusive and ambitious digital future
Senegal’s New Technology Deal is an ambitious initiative that aims to transform the country into a regional leader in digital innovation. With a focus on technological sovereignty, universal access to the Internet, skills development and support for startups, this strategy is part of a sustainable approach for a prosperous and inclusive digital future. Senegal is thus preparing to play a major role in the African digital ecosystem, while ensuring the well-being of its populations and contributing to its continental influence.
