Keypoints:
- China-funded data centres are strengthening Africa’s digital backbone
- Chinese e-commerce platforms are reshaping online trade and payments
- Skills transfer programmes are building Africa’s digital workforce
CHINA is deepening its role in Africa’s digital transformation, backing infrastructure, e-commerce and skills development initiatives aligned with the continent’s long-term development goals.
Digital transformation is a central pillar of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which identifies technology as a key driver of economic integration, productivity and inclusive growth. In recent years, cooperation between China and African countries in the digital economy has expanded under frameworks including high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation.
Through a mix of infrastructure investment, private-sector platforms and vocational training, Beijing is positioning itself as a long-term partner in Africa’s digital journey.
Botswana data centre anchors infrastructure push
In Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, a modern facility inside a technology park has become a flagship symbol of this cooperation. The Digital Delta Data Centre, constructed by a Chinese firm, is Botswana’s first national-level data centre and a critical upgrade to the country’s digital infrastructure.
Construction began in March 2021, and the facility was formally handed over to the Botswana government in June 2024. It houses high-performance servers, large-capacity storage systems and high-speed network equipment designed to support both government agencies and commercial users with large-scale data storage, processing and transmission.
‘Weak digital infrastructure has long constrained Botswana’s digital transformation,’ said Keabetswe Segole, chief executive officer of Botswana Fibre Networks, the operator of the centre. ‘The operation of the data centre has significantly improved the local information and communications technology ecosystem.’
Before the centre became operational, much of Botswana’s government and business data was hosted overseas, resulting in slower transmission speeds and higher costs. Local hosting has improved efficiency, lowered costs and enhanced the overall online experience for internet users across the country.
E-commerce platforms reshape African retail
China’s digital engagement extends beyond infrastructure into e-commerce and digital services. On the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, warehouse staff at Kilimall manage inventory, scan barcodes and prepare packages for delivery, reflecting how online retail is reshaping supply chains across the region.
Kilimall, the first Chinese company to enter Africa’s internet and e-commerce sector, now operates in multiple countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The platform hosts more than 8,000 sellers across 12,000 online stores, has established over 1,500 community pick-up points and records around 50 percent annual growth in mobile app downloads.
According to brand director Liao Zhengrong, the company has also developed its own payment system, enabling secure prepayment and reducing reliance on cash-on-delivery models that have historically limited trust and scale in African e-commerce.
For Kenyan entrepreneur Alex Kariuki, who sells furniture online, the platform has transformed his business. ‘Customers prepay when ordering, and I receive payment immediately once they confirm receipt,’ he said. His monthly sales now range between 300 and 400 items.
Training Africa’s digital workforce
China is also investing in skills transfer through vocational education. The Luban Workshop programme, supported by China, provides technical training for African students in digital and engineering fields.
Igiraneza Justine, a 22-year-old trainee from Rwanda, recently completed a year-long e-commerce programme at Jinhua University of Vocational Technology in eastern China. ‘Chinese instructors taught us platform management, data analysis, logistics and practical skills like video production,’ he said, adding that he hopes to launch an online business in Rwanda.
Observers say these initiatives are increasingly significant. Gert Grobler, former senior South African diplomat and honorary professor at Zhejiang Normal University, noted that China has supported the construction of fibre-optic networks, national data centres and digital governance systems across Africa, extending connectivity to hundreds of millions of users.
Through infrastructure investment, e-commerce expansion and skills development, China continues to provide momentum for Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
