Russia ready to support Africa's digital independence
In an interview with the newspaper L'Opinion on Tuesday, Andreev said,
'Russia is ready to become a strategic partner of Morocco in the implementation of the national digital strategy Morocco Digital 2030.'
He also stressed that while Africa is rich in resources, data has become the most valuable asset in today's world – adding that Russia is not interested in exploiting these resources, but in equipping African nations with tools to manage and protect them.
Russia offers
'not only software products, but an ecosystem of digital solutions that guarantee technological sovereignty and growth,'
he said.
The proposed solutions include digital transformation projects, development of smart cities and systems for public administration, financial services, and business operations. He pointed to several priority domains for cooperation, including AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, automated control systems, telecommunications, and smart transportation.
READ MORE:
Why Russia keeps winning friends in Africa
Asked whether Russia is prepared to support Morocco through skills training and digital literacy programs, Andreev highlighted the adaptability of the Russian approach. Unlike many Western companies, Russian developers prioritize localization and flexibility over rigid licensing models, he said.
'Russian companies offer data hosting on local servers, adapting products to the requirements of domestic brands and working closely with local companies – an essential factor for countries seeking to strengthen their technological sovereignty,'
the trade representative explained.
The initiative is in line with a broader strategy to strengthen economic ties with Africa. In November, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that trade between Russia and African countries reached a record high of $24.5 billion in 2023, despite obstacles created by the West. According to estimates from the Agroexport Center, Russia's agricultural exports to Morocco reached nearly $280 million in 2024, marking a threefold increase compared to the previous year.
READ MORE:
Russian food exports to Africa increase 19%
The interview took place ahead of the GITEX Africa 2025, the largest tech and startup show in Africa, scheduled for April 14-16 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Russia-Nigeria cooperation key to oil market stability
The partnership of Russia and Nigeria under the OPEC+ framework plays a decisive role in maintaining global oil market stability, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has said. His remarks came after a meeting with Nigeria's minister of finance and coordinating minister for the economy, Wale Edun. 'Our joint work within OPEC+ makes a decisive contribution to ensuring the stability and predictability of the global oil market,' Novak stated, as quoted by the press service of the Russian government on Tuesday. 'The decisions taken are based on real market indicators and trends and are aimed at balancing the market in the face of economic challenges.' Novak emphasized that collective action within OPEC and OPEC+ aligns with the long-term national interests of member countries and helps strengthen their economies. During the meeting, the two sides also discussed opportunities for full-cycle cooperation in the oil and gas industry, from geological exploration to field development. Russia is one of the largest participants in OPEC+ and the second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. Nigeria is one of the largest exporters and producers of oil, a member of OPEC and OPEC+. Last month, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin met with Nigeria's chargé d'affaires Garba Satomi Grema to discuss cooperation in geological exploration, petroleum product supply and hydropower engineering, as well as launching a dialogue between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Russia's Institute of Oil and Gas Technological Initiatives (IOGTI). Russia's energy ties with Africa have been expanding steadily. In March, Dmitry Poduyev, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Energy, said that Russia was ready to support African nations by transferring technology, enhancing human capital, and ensuring stable energy supplies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted last March that Moscow had doubled its exports of oil products to African countries in 2023–2024.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Kremlin urges Trump to pressure Kiev
The Kremlin urges all nations to push Kiev to reach a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine conflict and hopes US President Donald Trump is privately doing so, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. Earlier in the week, Trump unveiled a proposal under which NATO member states supporting Kiev would purchase American-made weapons for Ukraine's fight against Russia. He also warned that sanctions would be imposed on Russia and its trade partners unless hostilities are halted within 50 days. No similar deadline was issued for Ukraine. 'There were a lot of remarks about [Trump's] disappointment [with Russian President Vladimir Putin], but we want to hope that in parallel to that, pressure is being applied to the Ukrainian side,' Peskov told journalists. 'It appears that the Ukrainian side takes all statements of support as signals to continue war, not as signals for peace.' In public comments, Trump has alternated between assigning blame to Moscow and Kiev for the lack of progress toward his desired outcome in the conflict. His latest statements have focused on criticizing Russia. In May, Ukraine agreed to resume direct negotiations with Russia after the Trump administration indicated it expected such a step. However, talks stalled after the early June meeting, with Kiev declaring the process 'exhausted' and indicating it had only participated to avoid appearing dismissive of Trump's diplomatic agenda. Moscow has said it remains committed to achieving its core objectives in Ukraine but prefers a diplomatic solution if possible. Trump's threats were welcomed by hardliners in the US and Europe. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina issued a veiled threat of military action, writing on X that 'if Putin and others are wondering what happens on day 51, I would suggest they call the Ayatollah.' Graham referenced Iran's supreme leader, whose country was targeted last month by US and Israeli airstrikes. Officials claimed the attacks were necessary to dismantle Tehran's nuclear infrastructure and prevent the development of a nuclear weapon, a goal that Iran denies pursuing.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Ukraine confused by Trump's Patriot claim
Ukraine is unsure what US President Donald Trump meant when he announced that Kiev would receive '17 Patriots' from NATO countries, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), Major General Vadim Skibitsky, has said. When Trump made the statement during his meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday, he said a European member of the bloc would supply the American-made air defense systems, but did not specify if he was talking about whole batteries or separate launchers. The next day, the US president claimed that the Patriots 'are already being shipped. They are coming in from Germany and then replaced by Germany.' Skibitsky told The Guardian on Tuesday that Kiev reacted 'positively' to Trump's statement and that it was grateful for US military aid. However, he stressed that it was not clear to them how many Patriot systems Ukraine would be receiving. 'We do not know exactly,' the HUR deputy chief said. According to Skibitsky, '17 is a huge number if we are talking about batteries. If it is launchers, that is possible.' 'The US administration and the Pentagon will give us further details,' he added. A Patriot battery usually consists of six to eight launchers, a phased-array radar, a control station and a power generation station, with all of the hardware being mounted on trucks or trailers. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the Financial Times at the weekend that Ukraine has only six Patriot batteries left, which is 'too few.' Russia has recently ramped up its missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, which it insists only hit military-related targets. According to Moscow, the bombardment is also retaliation for Kiev's attacks on Russian territory, often targeting civilians, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure. Russian officials have stressed that no amount of Western military aid to Ukraine can change the course of the conflict but only serves to prolong the bloodshed and increase the chances of a direct clash between Moscow and NATO.
