(Ecofin Agency) - The Ivorian government is pursuing its 2021-25 digital development strategy, which includes 32 reforms and a substantial investment of CFA2,000 billion.

Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, the Ivorian Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, outlined the flagship projects for his department in 2024 during the New Year's wishes ceremony at the ministry on January 26.

The main 2024 projects will cover the deployment of 5,207 kilometers of optical fiber, the implementation of the new startup law adopted in 2023, an increase in 4G coverage, and the restructuring of the new postal service. These initiatives align with the national digital development strategy for 2021-2025, encompassing 32 reforms with an investment of CFA2,000 billion (nearly $3.3 billion). For 2024, the digital transformation department received CFA55.6 billion to enhance the governance of the digital sector and speed up the digitalization of the national economy through the integration of digital technologies into all activities.

Minister Konaté anticipates that the digital transformation of the economy will result in a 6 to 7-point increase in Côte d'Ivoire's GDP, generating between CFA2,000bn and CFA3,500bn. According to estimates from the World Bank, the digital economy will contribute more than $5.5 billion to Côte d'Ivoire by 2025 and over $20 billion by 2050 if the government and the private sector strengthen their investments in the five fundamental pillars of the digital economy.