Speech by President von der Leyen at the high-level event on EU D4D Flagships and EU-AU Partnership on Digital Transformation

Distinguished guests from Europe and from Africa,

Thank you for your virtual presence today on this important occasion for both our continents.

The next frontier of sustainable development is digital. Sustainable development today requires good internet connections for all.

Digital skills for all workers. A small company in Africa must be able to sell its products online. It must have access to online banking, and store its data safely. All of this is digital for development.

And Europe has a special role to play in this. We are not just the number one investor in development cooperation. Europe is also a leading player in the digital field.

From communications technologies, like 5G, to industrial sectors like robotics. European cities are becoming hubs for start-ups. Places where young innovators come together and attract more and more venture capital. There is a European way to digital innovation. One where human beings and values are at the centre.

This European approach to the Digital Age is what we have to offer to our partners, in Africa and all around the world. European technology means privacy for citizens and customers. European technology cares for the environment. European technology focuses on security of e-finance and safety for industrial data. It's technology that can be trusted, by our partners and by the people of Africa.

With today's initiative, we want to strengthen Europe's role as a global digital player. At the same time, we want to work more closely with Africa, which is tracing its own path towards a digital future.

Today we present our Global Digital for Development Hubs and the first regional branch, the Africa D4D Hub. This can be a game-changer for both Europe and Africa.

Let me address first European countries and businesses. This is an opportunity to join forces and to coordinate your digital initiatives abroad. But also to team up with successful and highly innovative digital Clusters in Africa and African companies as well. We Europeans share the same approach to digital innovation. Technology with a human heart. And together we can be a leading player in a globalised digital market.

But the D4D Hub can also be a game-changer for development in Africa. Today we are joined by many African friends, from the African Union, from governments and from Africa's business sector We would like to hear from you how to make the most of the D4D Hub.

Last February, Europe and Africa agreed that the digital transformation would be at the centre of our partnership. The African Union has set the target to mobilise 20 billion dollars in digital investment by 2025. Your aim is to create an African Digital Single Market. And the D4D Hub can be your partner in this.

We will create a space where European and African businesses can connect, learn and work with each other. It can be a two-way street. We Europeans can learn from African innovation: for instance, you are global leaders on instant payments. And for Africans, the D4D Hub will be the place to meet your European partners, public and private, and attract new investment.

It is the opportunity to design together the next steps towards a joint digital future for Africa and Europe. This is what we can achieve together: a digital partnership between Europe and Africa. A partnership that benefits both sides. A partnership that delivers on the expectations of our companies and families.

Both continents need good and affordable connections, improved digital skills, safe data storage

and digital solutions for small businesses. The Africa D4D Hub can help to answer all of these demands. In Africa's and Europe's interest.

Thank you!