Lacina Koné, the director general and CEO of Smart Africa, an alliance focused on technological and digital innovation in Africa, discusses the continent's digital journey and priorities for the future. He notes that African countries have made progress in mobile penetration, fintech innovation, and startup growth. However, areas that require more attention include digital infrastructure, internet affordability, digital literacy and skills, digital identity and services, and regulation.

Koné emphasizes that African governments should prioritize making the internet and smart devices more affordable. This affordability is crucial to ensure that digital transformation benefits a larger portion of the population and contributes to overall societal and economic advancement. Additionally, addressing the digital skills gap is essential, as over 230 million jobs in Africa are expected to require digital skills by 2030. Lastly, establishing robust digital ID and data frameworks is vital for the continent's digital economy, enabling secure online transactions, privacy, e-payments, e-commerce, and efficient public services.

For startups and investors looking to contribute to Africa's digital transformation, Koné advises trusting Africa and seizing the opportunities it offers for impact through innovation. He highlights the continent's economic dynamism, the development of the startups ecosystem, and the encouragement for entrepreneurship among the youth. Smart Africa is actively working with stakeholders to provide the right frameworks and support for entrepreneurs, building trust and guarantees for investments in the ecosystem.

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