By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Africa’s ability to capture the economic potential of artificial intelligence will depend on investment in resilient infrastructure, capital, skills, and the people needed to develop and apply the technology, according to Francine Katsoudas, Cisco Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer.
Katsoudas made the remarks
during engagements in New York around the United Nations General Assembly,
where she participated in discussions involving government, business and
technology leaders on Africa’s digital transformation and AI opportunities.
According to the African
Development Bank, inclusive development and deployment of AI could generate up
to $1 trillion in additional GDP for Africa by 2035. The Bank’s report
identifies data, compute, skills, trust and capital as key enablers for Africa to
realise the potential gains from AI.
At the Côte d’Ivoire
Investment and Business Forum, Katsoudas joined Florizelle Liser, President and
CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa; H.E. Nialé Kaba, Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Honorable Frank Garcia,
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State;
Jessica Davis Ba, former U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire; Amb Linda
Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; and Thierry
Wandji Ketchiozo, CEO of Cybastion.
During advisory sessions at
the Export-Import Bank of the United States, led by President and Chairman John
Jovanovic, discussions focused on the conditions needed to turn technology
ambitions into projects, including resilient networks, local leadership,
trusted partnerships and financing.
Katsoudas also participated
in a conversation on the Semafor stage with Rachel Oppenheim, Chief Revenue
Officer at SEMAFOR, and held discussions with ITU Secretary-General Doreen
Bogdan-Martin through the Partner2Connect coalition.
The discussions focused on
moving beyond access and adoption to enabling more people to use technology to
solve problems and contribute to shaping the future.
Katsoudas pointed to Côte
d’Ivoire as an example of efforts to combine digital infrastructure with local
capabilities, noting that Cisco is working with Cybastion to strengthen secure
digital infrastructure and create more pathways into the digital economy.
“Connectivity is a starting
point, not an outcome,” Katsoudas said.
She also stressed the
importance of investing in people alongside infrastructure and technology,
particularly as Africa remains home to the world’s youngest population.
“A trillion dollars is a
powerful projection. Continued investment, partnerships, and people will make
this opportunity possible,” she said.
