Novel Delhi, India – Italy, India and Kenya have formalized a trilateral partnership aimed at expanding access to artificial intelligence technologies across Africa, with a particular focus on developing sovereign AI capabilities. The collaboration was announced on February 20, 2026, during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, marking a significant step towards bolstering AI infrastructure on the continent.
A letter of strategic intent was signed by Sen. Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy; Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology; and William Kabogo Gitau, Kenya’s Minister of ICT and the Digital Economy. The agreement reaffirms the three nations’ commitment to developing AI platforms and solutions, building upon the foundations laid by the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and the Nairobi AI Forum.
Kenya and the broader African continent will be the primary geographical focus of this renewed cooperation, aligning with Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. The partnership will prioritize the development and dissemination of voice AI in African languages, aiming to overcome language barriers and broaden access to digital services. This initiative is particularly important given the potential of AI to address challenges in key sectors like agriculture, health, education, and public services.
Officials stated that the collaboration will target the implementation of 100 AI diffusion pathways by 2030. A trilateral working group, comprised of representatives from each country, will be established to oversee the initial 15 use cases and guide the project’s implementation. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the significance of the agreement, emphasizing its contribution to advancing AI infrastructure.
The partnership comes as the potential of AI in Africa is estimated to be worth $136 billion, contingent on the ability to leverage cross-border data flows. TechArena reports that this trilateral effort seeks to catalyze “smart ecosystem pathways,” combining India’s innovation expertise and digital public goods with Kenya’s on-the-ground ecosystem leadership and Italy’s focus on industrial applications. Kenya’s ICT Authority notes that the collaboration is a crucial step toward building sovereign, green AI infrastructure.
The development underscores a growing international focus on responsible AI development and deployment, particularly in emerging markets. The initiative could too serve as a model for similar collaborations between developed and developing nations seeking to harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence.
