Côte d’Ivoire has approved a CFA 83.2 billion (US$146.9 million) budget for its Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalisation for 2026, marking a significant 37% increase from the previous year as the government intensifies efforts to modernize public services and expand digital infrastructure nationwide.
The budget, validated by Parliament on November 22, is structured around four strategic programs. These include general administrative support, the development of the digital economy, the expansion of universal electronic communications services, and strengthening regulatory activities across the sector.
According to the Ministry, the funding will accelerate ongoing initiatives aimed at improving internet access, enhancing digital governance, and supporting the country’s growing digital industry. The government highlights recent achievements in 2024, including the deployment of 33,140 kilometers of fiber-optic network, the construction of 160 new radio sites serving 175 localities, and the rollout of the E-Démarche Administrative platform, which has digitized 105 public procedures.
Authorities also reported progress in cybersecurity sensitization campaigns and in updating the legal and institutional framework governing digital services, data protection, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The government believes that continued investment in digital transformation could significantly boost economic growth. Projections from the World Bank suggest the digital economy could contribute US$5.5 billion by 2025 and exceed US$20 billion by 2050, while domestic estimates indicate effective digitalisation could add 6 to 7 percentage points to Côte d’Ivoire’s GDP.
The announcement follows other recent digital investments, including a CFA 39.6 billion financing package for the country’s first national data center. These initiatives form part of the national digital strategy aimed at expanding infrastructure, promoting innovation, and positioning Côte d’Ivoire as a regional digital hub.
