(Ecofin Agency) - Authorities in Senegal are stepping up to push the country's digital sector to a higher level. By 2030, the sector's weight in the GDP is expected to be 10%. Great projects are already on the way.

Last week, the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy signed a memorandum of understanding with American tech firm Google. The goal is to establish a sovereign cloud in Senegal.

According to a press release from the ministry, as reported by the Senegalese Press Agency, "This infrastructure will allow Senegal to protect sensitive data while meeting the growing needs of Senegalese and African administrations and businesses."

This agreement follows the visit of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the United States for the 79th United Nations General Assembly, which took place from September 21 to 28. During his trip, he met with leaders from several tech firms to advance the New Technological Deal, an initiative aimed at positioning Senegal as a leader in innovation in Africa.

The creation of a sovereign cloud could ensure the storage and management of critical data within local infrastructures. It will help maintain control over sensitive information, especially in strategic sectors like finance, health, and security. Additionally, this initiative can promote the development of local skills in cloud computing, computer engineering, and data management.

Digital transformation in Senegal is progressing steadily. The report "E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development" shows that the country has a score of 0.5142, above the continental average of 0.4247. In terms of cybersecurity, the International Telecommunication Union classifies Senegal as Tier 3 with a score of 51.61.