Digital economy – digitalisation is going to be a huge enabler to achieve all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Digitalisation is connection, the “force of gravity” enabling fast flow of information, economies of scale, world-around reach of ideas, services, products.
At this workshop in our Brussels office on Thursday 14 September, we explored different ways we can provide finance for digitalisation outside the EU. These include direct support of ICT companies, as well as equity participations, like in TLcom TIDE Africa Fund, a USD 100m regional venture capital fund focusing on innovative technology-based African SMEs.
We heard from Benoit Denis, Economist of the Digital Economy Division at the EIB, who explained how the EIB supports this kind of projects.
In addition we also welcomed Okba Moussa, Director of Market Operations of Tunisie Telecom, who told us about the roll-out of mobile next generation access networks, including the related investments in the backbone network and IT systems in Tunisia.
Also presented was the TLcom TIDE Africa Fund, by Andreata Muforo, Partner of TLcom Capital LLP.
Finally we also heard about the project TV Cabo Multimedia II, thanks to Nuno Marques, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of Grupo Visabeira, shareholder of TV Cabo Angola LDA.
A selection of presentations from the event is available below.