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The Mauritius government has unveiled a new digital cooperation strategy targeting Zambia and other members of the Southern African Development Community, aimed at strengthening regional ICT partnerships and deepening cross-border digital integration.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Avinash Ramtohul, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, outlined his country’s vision for more robust collaboration across the digital landscape. His remarks followed the Mauritius–Zambia ICT Business Forum held on March 23, 2026.
The event was jointly organised by the Zambia Development Agency and the Economic Development Board of Mauritius as part of the broader Mauritius Africa Export of ICT Services roadshow.
Ramtohul said Mauritius’ engagements with Namibia, Botswana and Zambia are anchored in the country’s Digital Transformation Blueprint 2025–2029, which focuses on building a secure, innovative and modern digital economy. He stressed that beyond exporting infrastructure and services, Mauritius is positioning itself as a provider of trust, governance and digital expertise.
According to the minister, the Zambia forum prioritised investment promotion, knowledge exchange and the development of digital solutions—laying the groundwork for tangible outcomes rather than mere networking.
He emphasised that Africa must be viewed as a long-term partner rather than a short-term export market, adding that Mauritius’ regional outreach demonstrates sustained commitment to collaboration.
Looking ahead, Ramtohul called for more targeted initiatives, including sector-specific missions, enhanced cooperation in artificial intelligence, strengthened digital public services, follow-up business engagements and deeper ties with regulators and innovation ecosystems.
He further proposed a three-tier policy approach to sustain momentum. This included continued dialogue between Mauritius—through the Economic Development Board and other institutions—and its regional counterparts to address barriers and unlock new opportunities for cooperation.
Additionally, he said export promotion efforts must align with broader national priorities such as artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity, digital identity and public digital infrastructure, ensuring that Mauritian digital firms are positioned as part of an integrated and trusted regional ecosystem rather than isolated service providers.
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