India’s commitment to supporting Africa’s digital progress

One of the priority areas for the G20 and a critical focal point for South Africa’s presidency this year is digital cooperation aimed at promoting inclusive and equitable digital development by addressing infrastructure, affordability, and digital literacy, particularly in developing regions. 

The digital cooperation between India and Africa highlights a broader commitment to mutual capacity-building, inclusive development and technological independence with the aim of joint digital innovation also potentially driving socio-economic progress across the Global South.

In July this year, India marked ten years of its flagship Digital India initiative which has significantly enhanced India’s digital infrastructure and public service delivery. It has seen Internet users rise from 251 million in 2014 to nearly 970 million by 2024 and the digital economy now plays a pivotal role in national growth, contributing approximately USD 200 billion annually and comprising 11.74 per cent of GDP in 2022/23.

With most African nations poised for digital transformation, the Indian experience could offer them a cost-effective and contextually relevant model as this replicable model holds tremendous potential for African governments seeking to address their digital divides and improve governance through technological solutions.

Africa’s contemporary challenges towards digital transformation resemble what India encountered almost a decade ago, including fragmented public service delivery, low internet penetration and inadequate infrastructure.

One example is Aadhaar, India’s biometric digital identity programme, which has successfully enrolled over one billion individuals at a cost of approximately 1 US Dollar per identity. The digital identity infrastructure is widely recognised as a model for inclusive and efficient governance and links the user to a broad range of services, including direct benefit transfers, financial inclusion, and access to healthcare. 

India’s commitment to supporting Africa’s digital progress comes in the form of bilateral cooperation and the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) which include bilateral financial assistance, grants, and Lines of Credit (LoCs) to support infrastructure and capacity development in the information and communications technology (ICT) space.

India has also facilitated the establishment of Information Technology centres in Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda and Tanzania and it has donated advanced computing equipment to several African nations. It has also contributed to flagship infrastructure projects such as the Cyber Tower in Mauritius and the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT in Ghana. At Egypt’s Al Azhar University, India supported the creation of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology to promote digital skills among youth.

In 2023, India established its first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Zanzibar, Tanzania, offering advanced Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programmes, signifying its commitment to long-term academic and technological collaboration and digital capacity building for African youth.

In Nigeria, India has recently intensified its influence in that country’s digital transformation through strategic partnerships, including Airtel Africa’s multi-year, multi-million dollar collaboration with Xtelify (the digital arm of Bharti Airtel India) to deploy advanced software platforms across Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure. Also, India-Nigeria partnerships have focused on revolutionising agricultural practices through digital transformation and precision agriculture technologies, emphasising sustainable farming practices and crop monitoring systems.

India’s commitment to Africa and digital cooperation mirrors the priorities of the G20 in key areas that include digital innovation, data governance, and ensuring the responsible and ethical development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Under the 2025 South African presidency, the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) has been prioritising policies for connectivity, AI for social good, and leveraging digital transformation for economic and social reconstruction after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

South Africa’s Communications Minister Solly Malatsi, delivering the opening address at the G20 DEWG at the end of September, said Africa is a centre of innovation, home to young entrepreneurs and creative thinkers, and a key partner in advancing digital transformation that leaves no one behind.

“Throughout our term, our work has been guided by four core priorities. These are: universal and equitable digital inclusion; digital public infrastructure as a driver of transformation; innovation ecosystems that empower micro, small and medium enterprises, and artificial intelligence that is equitable, inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable.

“Together, these priorities reflect a shared commitment to building a digital economy that is both people-centred and development-oriented,” Malatsi said.

By sharing its expertise and technology, India intends to offer a powerful model for accelerating digital transformation across the developing world. This collaborative approach supports the creation of resilient digital ecosystems in African nations and fosters a spirit of knowledge exchange, innovation, and shared prosperity.

Jayant Chaudhary, India’s Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, speaking at Africa’s largest tech and startup show, GITEX Africa 2025 in Morocco’s capital, Marrakesh, said it is important to explore collaboration opportunities and advance the shared goal of inclusive and equitable growth in the global economy.

“India’s Digital Public Infrastructure has driven transformative changes across areas, especially through developments of digital identity (Aadhaar), digital payments (UPI), e-commerce (ONDC), and healthcare. And we are increasingly integrating advanced technologies–artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, fintech, and digital infrastructure – into our skilling ecosystem,” said (Independent Charge).

“These are areas, rich with potential, for collaboration with our African partners, and we can collectively grow our economies through sustained partnerships,” Chaudhary said.

India is making a strong case that it has the potential to catalyse the speed of digitalisation in other developing countries seeking to develop such systems through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

* Dr Govender is an academic and a keen observer of issues related to international relations.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.