• Senegal and Vietnam discussed digital tech cooperation on July 23.

• Talks support Senegal’s goal to become a digital hub and expand rural internet.

• Viettel may enter Senegal’s market to aid connectivity and skills development.
  

Senegal’s Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Alioune Sall, received a Vietnamese delegation on Wednesday, July 23, in Dakar. The delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Bùi Thê Duy, and the Deputy Director General of telecom operator Viettel. The meeting explored opportunities for cooperation in innovation and digital technologies.

According to a statement from the ministry in charge of digital affairs, discussions highlighted digital technology’s role as a key lever for sustainable development. Vietnam, with its near-universal network coverage and strong digital inclusion, wishes to share its experience with Senegal. This includes potential partnerships in critical infrastructure and technology transfer.

The meeting took place during the official visit of the President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Trần Thanh Mẫn, to Senegal. It reflects an expansion of bilateral cooperation into new strategic sectors. For Senegal, this initiative aligns with its Technological New Deal, a strategy aiming to make the country a sovereign and inclusive digital hub by 2034.

Among Senegal's priorities is reducing internet access disparities between urban and rural areas. A recent joint survey by the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP) and the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD) reveals that only 3% of rural households have home internet access.

In this context, Vietnam’s expertise, where the digital economy accounts for 18.72% of GDP, represents a strategic asset. Should the partnership materialize, Vietnam could support Senegal in strengthening connectivity, developing local skills, and sharing information and communication technology expertise.

The presence of Viettel, a state-owned telecom operator with an international profile, also suggests potential interest in entering the Senegalese market. Already active in several African countries, including Burundi and Mozambique, Viettel may consider providing solutions tailored to local realities in support of Senegal’s ambitions to close the digital divide.

Samira Njoya