Digital Infrastructure Companies Seek African Expansion via ODA... Ethiopian Delegation Attends Forum

Domestic artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure companies are seeking to enter the African market by leveraging Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs.

Participants of the 'Ethiopia x K-Digital Connect 2026' forum are taking a commemorative photo at the DSRV headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 15th. DSRV

The 'Ethiopia x K-Digital Connect 2026' forum was held on the 15th at the DSRV headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by the visiting delegation from the Ethiopian government, representatives from the World Bank, Export-Import Bank of Korea, the National Information Society Agency (NIA), as well as domestic and international organizations, digital companies, and academia.

At the forum, participants discussed Ethiopia's status of digital transformation, funding sources, and plans for policy cooperation. Biniam Shiferaw, Digital Specialist at the World Bank, stated, "The World Bank has supported Ethiopia in establishing digital public infrastructure (DPI), including digital ID and cybersecurity," adding, "During this exchange, we will focus on closely examining Korea's operational capabilities that are necessary for expanding digital ID into the financial, agriculture, and public service sectors."

Jung Yongjin, Team Leader at Export-Import Bank of Korea, introduced ICT project cases in Africa that utilized the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), including the establishment of a land information system in Ethiopia. Kim Jonghak, Team Leader at NIA, proposed applying Korea's expertise in electronic government infrastructure to Ethiopia through public data openness and public-private collaboration models.

Presentations followed, featuring demonstrations by domestic companies whose potential for success has already been verified in Africa. Seo Byungyoon, Co-CEO of DSRV, who led the digital agriculture voucher pilot project for the government of Madagascar, said, "We confirmed both the feasibility of applying blockchain technology locally and the improvement in transparency of subsidy disbursement in Madagascar." He added, "Building on this foundation, we will actively pursue cooperation with the governments of major African countries, including Ethiopia, to create leading cases of digital infrastructure exports."

Kim Heejung, Head of Communications at BC Card, presented a case where mobile-based digital payment and settlement infrastructure improved financial accessibility. Seo Hyeonmin, Director at S2W, shared strategies for addressing cyber threats during the implementation of digital administrative systems, presenting a case focused on protecting digital public services based on AI cybersecurity. The panel discussion was moderated by Lee Jongook, Professor at Seoul National University's Department of Agricultural Economics and Sociology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.