China Assists Africa's Digital Transformation (Sino-African Cooperation in the New Era)

At the Kilimall warehouse located on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, staff members are packing parcels that are about to be shipped.

Photographed by Liao Zhengrong

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

"Improved the local information and communication technology ecosystem"

In the technology park of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, stands a modern building with innovative design. This is the Botswana National Data Center, which is constructed by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Jiangxi International"), and it is also the country's first national-level data center.

The Botswana National Data Center commenced construction in March 2021 and was handed over to the Botswana government in June 2024. The construction project includes the construction of a new 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, told reporters that the data center room can store high-performance servers, large-capacity storage devices, high-speed network equipment, etc., meeting the needs of the Botswana government and commercial users for large-scale data storage, processing, and transmission.

The data center serves as both a node on the information highway and a safeguard for data security. Unlike typical housing construction projects, data centers have stringent requirements for fire prevention, earthquake resistance, and power supply assurance. Moleife, 40, once served as the chief foreman during the project construction phase and took on the responsibility of ensuring the project's operation and maintenance during the operational phase. "During the project construction, the Chinese team imparted knowledge on mechanical equipment operation and maintenance, as well as how to respond to emergencies such as power outages and fires," said Moleife. Zhu Yahan explained that the data room adopts a triple power assurance system, consisting of independent municipal power supply, uninterrupted emergency power supply, and diesel generators. In the event of a municipal power failure, the emergency power supply can maintain power for 10 minutes, while the accompanying four diesel generators can be started within 2 minutes, ensuring the safety of data center equipment and data.

"The weak digital infrastructure has hindered Botswana's progress in advancing digital transformation. The operation of Botswana's National Data Center has improved the local information and communication technology (ICT) ecosystem." Segole, the operator of Botswana's National Data Center and CEO of Botswana Fiber Optic Network Company, said that before the project delivery, many government and business data of Botswana were stored in other countries, resulting in low transmission efficiency. After the operation of Botswana's National Data Center, Botswana's Internet users can achieve higher-speed and lower-cost data exchange, improving their online experience. "Nowadays, we have an efficient basic data platform, and the development of network and data exchange business is conducive to promoting the digital transformation of the entire country. We look forward to cooperating with more Chinese enterprises to continuously improve digital infrastructure and enhance the efficiency of data transmission, sharing, and interconnection," said Segole.

"The convenient and efficient service has been recognized by consumers."

In the warehouse of Kilimall, an e-commerce platform located on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, employees shuttle between rows of shelves, counting goods, scanning codes, packing boxes... Outside the warehouse, "delivery guys" in red uniforms are ready to go, preparing for delivery.

As the first company in China to enter the African internet and e-commerce industry, Kilimall has developed in Africa for over a decade, covering multiple African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It boasts over 8,000 sellers and more than 12,000 stores, has established over 1,500 community pickup points, and sees a 50% annual growth rate in mobile app downloads. "The Kilimall platform has also independently developed a payment system, providing consumers with convenient and diversified online payment channels," said Liao Zhengrong, the brand director of Kilimall.

In the view of Patrick Mushoki, an assistant for the home and kitchen categories on the Kilimall platform, Kilimall's self-built logistics system and self-developed payment system have greatly enhanced the shopping experience of consumers, and "the convenient and efficient service has been recognized by consumers".

Kaliuki, 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 hesitant. Through a friend's introduction, I learned that Kilimall has independently developed an online payment system. Customers make prepayments when placing orders on the platform, and I can receive the payment immediately after confirming receipt. This payment method gave me confidence to join." Kaliuki said that since joining Kilimall, furniture sales have been continuously increasing, and now he can sell 300 to 400 products every month. "Through Kilimall, my products can reach customers in different parts of Kenya. Next, I plan to enrich the product range and provide customers with more diverse choices.".

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

Justin, a 22-year-old student from the Rwanda Luban Workshop, completed a two-year professional study at the Musanze Vocational and Technical College in Rwanda and then came to Zhejiang Jinhua Vocational and Technical University for a one-year practical training in e-commerce. "This is already the second batch of students from the Rwanda Luban Workshop who have come to China for practical training," said Ge Rui, an e-commerce teacher at Zhejiang Jinhua Vocational and Technical University. In early 2025, the first batch of 30 students from the Musanze Vocational and Technical College majoring in e-commerce and electrical automation completed their practical training and returned to Rwanda. Many students majoring in e-commerce have begun to engage in e-commerce live streaming, e-commerce operations, and other related work in Rwanda.

"Chinese teachers not only teach us knowledge about e-commerce platform management, data analysis, logistics management, but also impart practical skills such as video shooting and lighting compensation. On the virtual e-commerce platform built by Chinese teachers, my classmates and I simulated real e-commerce operation scenarios and competed to see who could achieve higher sales," said Justin Zhu. Such teaching methods help everyone quickly improve their vocational skills. "China is a global leader in digital technology and business development. I hope to open my own online store and bring China's digital economy development experience back to my hometown."

"Currently, the technical standards for e-commerce and electrical automation, collaboratively developed by the Rwandan Luban Workshop, have been approved by the Rwanda Higher Education Commission and the Rwanda Ministry of Education, and have been incorporated into the Rwandan vocational and technical standards system," said Xu Anqi, the head of the e-commerce major at Zhejiang Jinhua Vocational and Technical University. "Through the combination of classroom learning and e-commerce practice, we aim to cultivate more talents proficient in digital skills for Rwanda, thereby facilitating its digital transformation."

Hert Grobler, a former senior diplomat from South Africa and honorary professor at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, said that from jointly building the largest optical cable manufacturing plant in Africa, enhancing optical cable manufacturing capabilities, to helping African countries add and upgrade about 150,000 kilometers of communication backbone networks, covering about 700 million users; from undertaking the construction of national data centers in multiple African countries, to providing smart government service solutions; from holding the "Huawei ICT Competition" to enhance the information and communication technology knowledge level and practical ability of African youth, to the China Merchants Group holding "digital innovation and cross-border e-commerce" training camps for many years in a row, providing a platform for African young entrepreneurs to learn digital technology, entrepreneurial operations, and other knowledge... Over the years, China has actively participated in the digital infrastructure construction of the African continent, continuously injecting momentum into the digital transformation of the African continent by cultivating the e-commerce industry and professional talents.