The government of Chad is seeking collaboration with India to advance its digital industry.
On Friday, February 14, Chadian Minister of Communications, Digital Economy, and Digitalisation, Boukar Michel, met with Indian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sevela Naik Mude, who oversees Central and East Africa, to discuss the prospects of their partnership.
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Areas of collaboration
Three major dimensions serve as the framework for the two sides’ discussions.
Firstly, Chadian engineers are to be trained by India, specifically in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Additionally, the collaboration could help the National School of Information and Communication Technologies (ENASTIC) by providing specialised training to both teachers and students.
Thirdly, the collaboration seeks to expedite postal service digitisation, specifically via the postal bank project.
Chad to bank on India’s digital experience
India is regarded by Chadian authorities as a leader in the digital space. With a score of 0.6678 out of 1, which is higher than the global average of 0.6382, the nation is in fact rated 97th out of 193 in the globe by the United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI).
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Furthermore, India is recognised for its strong cybersecurity practices by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
In order to achieve its goal of using digital technology as “a lever for socio-economic development,” the Chadian administration is relying on India’s expertise.
The Digital Transformation Support Project (PATN), which was funded by the World Bank to the tune of 76.45 billion FCFA (about $122.3 million), was initiated by the government in December 2024.
With an EGDI of 0.1785 out of 1, the nation’s score is lower than the global, African, and Central Africa averages (0.3354, 0.4247, respectively). The nation is ranked fourth (Tier 4) out of five in terms of cybersecurity.
India and Chad are still in the early stages of their discussions over this digital cooperation, and no firm commitment has been made as of yet. Nonetheless, both sides express a willingness to formalise their collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding. As of yet, no precise schedule has been disclosed.
The goal of Chadian authorities is to establish digital technology as a foundational element of socio-economic growth. International cooperation is what the country is depending on to do this.