Digital transformation is one of the important goals of the African Union's Agenda 2063. In recent years, under the framework of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the depth and breadth of China-Africa cooperation in the field of digital economy have been expanding. From accelerating the construction of digital infrastructure, to building e-commerce service platforms, to cultivating digital talents, China actively helps African countries bridge the digital divide.

Improved the local information and communication technology ecosystem

In the Science Park of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, there is a modern building with novel design. This is the Botswana National Data Center contracted by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Jiangxi International") and the first national data center in the country.

Botswana National Data Center will be constructed in March 2021 and handed over to the Botswana government in June 2024. The construction project includes the construction of a two-story data center building with office areas, functional equipment areas, and server room areas, as well as ancillary facilities such as pump rooms and generator areas. Zhu Yahan, the project manager of Jiangxi International Botswana Branch, introduced to the reporter that the computer room of the data center can store high-performance servers, high-capacity storage devices, high-speed network equipment, etc., to meet the needs of Botswana government and commercial users for large-scale data storage, processing and transmission.

The data center is not only a node on the information highway, but also a guarantee of data security. Unlike typical building projects, data centers have very high requirements for fire prevention, earthquake resistance, and power supply. Molefei, who is 40 years old, served as the chief engineer during the project construction period and was responsible for the support work during the project operation and maintenance period. During the project construction period, the Chinese team taught us about the operation and maintenance of mechanical equipment, as well as how to deal with unexpected situations such as power outages and fires, "said Molefee. Zhu Yahan said that the data center adopts a triple power guarantee of independent municipal power supply, uninterrupted emergency power supply, and diesel generator. Once the municipal power supply fails, the emergency power supply can maintain power supply for 10 minutes, and the supporting 4 diesel generators can start within 2 minutes, ensuring the safety of data center equipment and data.

The weak digital infrastructure has affected the process of Botswana's digital transformation. The operation of Botswana's National Data Center has improved the local information and communication technology ecosystem. Segole, the operator of Botswana's National Data Center and CEO of Botswana Optical Network Company, said that before the project delivery, many government and business data in Botswana were stored in other countries, with low transmission efficiency. After the operation of Botswana National Data Center, Botswana Internet users can achieve higher speed and lower cost data interaction, and the online experience is improved. Nowadays, we have an efficient basic data platform and the development of network and data exchange businesses, which helps to promote the digital transformation of the entire country. We look forward to cooperating with more Chinese enterprises to continuously improve digital infrastructure, enhance the efficiency of data transmission, sharing, and interconnection, "said Segole.

Convenient and efficient services are recognized by consumers

At the warehouse of Kilimall, an e-commerce platform located near Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, employees shuttle between rows of shelves, counting goods, scanning codes, packing... Outside the warehouse, a "delivery guy" wearing a red uniform is ready to go, ready for delivery.

As the first Chinese company to enter the African Internet and e-commerce industry, Kilimall has developed its business in Africa for more than 10 years, covering Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and other African countries. It has more than 8000 sellers and more than 12000 stores, and has established more than 1500 community bootstrapping points. The number of mobile app downloads is growing at an annual rate of 50%. Kilimall platform has also independently developed a payment system, providing consumers with convenient and diversified online payment channels. ”Kilimall Brand Director Liao Zhengrong said.

In the view of Patrick Mushuki, the home and kitchen category assistant on Kilimall platform, Kilimall's self-built logistics system and self-developed payment system have greatly improved consumers' shopping experience, and "convenient and efficient services have been recognized by consumers".

Kariuki, a 36-year-old Kenyan, mainly sells furniture such as TV cabinets and coffee tables. The transportation cost of these products is very high, and most local e-commerce platforms adopt cash on delivery, which makes me hesitate. Through a friend's introduction, I learned that Kilimall has independently developed an online payment system, where customers make a prepayment when placing an order on the platform, and I can receive payment as soon as I confirm receipt. This payment method gave me the confidence to join. "Kariuki said that since joining Kilimall, furniture sales have continued to increase, and now he can sell 300 to 400 products per month. "Through Kilimall, my products can reach customers in different regions of Kenya. Next, I plan to enrich the product range and provide customers with more diverse choices."

Bring back the experience of China's digital economy development to our hometown

22-year-old Zhu Siting is a student of the Luban Workshop in Rwanda. After completing two years of professional study at Musanze Vocational and Technical College in Rwanda, he came to Jinhua Vocational and Technical University in Zhejiang for a one-year e-commerce practical training. This is already the second batch of students from the Luban Workshop in Rwanda to come to China for practical training, "said Ge Rui, a teacher in the e-commerce major at Jinhua Vocational and Technical University in Zhejiang. In early 2025, the first batch of 30 students from the e-commerce and electrical automation majors at Musanze Vocational and Technical College in Rwanda will return to China after completing their practical training. Many e-commerce majors will start working in e-commerce live streaming, e-commerce operations, and other fields in Rwanda.

Chinese teachers not only teach us knowledge about e-commerce platform management, data analysis, logistics management, but also practical skills such as video shooting and lighting up. On the virtual e-commerce platform built by Chinese teachers, my classmates and I simulate real e-commerce operation scenarios and compete to see who has higher sales. This teaching method helps everyone quickly improve their professional skills. "China is at the forefront of digital technology and business development worldwide. I hope to open my own online store and bring back the experience of China's digital economy development to my hometown

At present, the technical standards for the two majors of e-commerce and electrical automation that Rwanda Luban Workshop cooperates with have been approved by the Higher Education Commission of Rwanda and the Ministry of Education of Rwanda, and have been included in the vocational and technical standard system of Rwanda. "Xu Anqi, the head of the e-commerce major at Zhejiang Jinhua Vocational and Technical University, said," Through 'classroom learning+e-commerce practice', we hope to cultivate more talents who master digital skills for Rwanda and help Rwanda's digital transformation.

Hert Grobler, a former senior diplomat from South Africa and honorary professor at the Africa Research Institute of Zhejiang Normal University, stated that from jointly building the largest fiber optic cable manufacturing plant in Africa to enhancing cable manufacturing capabilities, to helping African countries add and upgrade about 150,000 kilometers of communication backbone networks, network services cover about 700 million users; from building data centers in multiple African countries to providing smart government service solutions; from hosting the "Huawei ICT Competition" to enhance the knowledge and practical abilities of African youth in information and communication technology, to China Merchants Group's continuous hosting of "Digital Innovation and Cross-border E-commerce" training camps for many years, providing a platform for African young entrepreneurs to learn digital technology, entrepreneurship, and operation knowledge... Over the years, China has actively participated in the construction of digital infrastructure on the African continent, continuously injecting momentum into the continent's digital transformation through cultivating e-commerce industries and professional talents.