• Algeria expanded digital cooperation talks at the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Summit.
• Agreements were signed with South Africa and discussed with Congo, Brazil, and the UN.
• The effort aligns with the “Algeria Digital 2030” strategy to drive economic diversification.

Algeria is seeking to strengthen international cooperation in the digital sector on the sidelines of the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Summit, held from November 4 to 6 in Cape Town, South Africa. Minister of Post and Telecommunications Sid Ali Zerrouki held a series of bilateral meetings with several counterparts, international organizations, and major technology stakeholders.

Zerrouki signed a letter of intent with his South African counterpart, Solly Malatsi, to deepen bilateral cooperation and ensure regular follow-up on joint projects. In talks with Luc Missidimbazi, adviser to the Congolese prime minister, discussions focused on boosting African cooperation to reduce technological dependence and develop national digital capacities.

The minister also met with Beatriz Vasconcellos, Brazil’s Secretary of State for Digital Transformation, to exchange experiences on developing digital public infrastructure and strengthening digital sovereignty.

He later met with Mehdi Senan, senior adviser at the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UNODET), to discuss cooperation prospects and Algeria’s support for the organization’s initiatives. Zerrouki also held talks with Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who invited Algeria to share its digital development experience at the next Global AI Summit.

“These meetings reflect Algeria’s efforts to enhance its international presence and exchange expertise to support the development of digital public infrastructure for inclusive and sustainable growth,” the ministry said in a statement.

Speaking at the summit, Zerrouki emphasized the importance of close collaboration between governments, the private sector, and startups as a key driver of innovation and efficiency. He called for stronger knowledge exchange among African countries to build their technological and institutional capacity.

These cooperation efforts align with Algeria’s “Algeria Digital 2030” strategy, which aims to make digital transformation a pillar of economic diversification, job creation, and regional influence. The plan is structured around five strategic pillars: core infrastructure, human resources, education, research and development, digital governance, and the digital economy and society.

According to the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), Algeria ranks 116th globally, with a score of 0.5956 out of 1—above the African average of 0.4247 but below the global average of 0.6382.