EU and African officials discuss joint AI investment and infrastructure cooperation

The European Commission organised an EU-Africa AI Tech Business Offer Event in Brussels on 21 May 2026, focusing on cooperation opportunities between African and European AI actors.

The meeting brought together policymakers, technology companies, development finance institutions, cooperation agencies, and AI experts from both regions.

Government representatives from Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania participated in discussions with European digital companies and Team Europe partners on possible areas for joint investment and collaboration.

According to the Commission, the discussions focused on AI infrastructure development, business partnerships, and investment pathways linked to AI ecosystems in Africa.

The event also served as part of the EU’s broader digital cooperation strategy with African partners. Organisers presented what the Commission described as an “EU Tech Business Offer” related to artificial intelligence.

The meeting was coordinated with Smart Africa and supported through cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and the Digital for Development Hub.

A central issue is infrastructure capacity. AI cooperation increasingly depends not only on policy dialogue but also on access to computing resources, data infrastructure, financing mechanisms, and local technical ecosystems able to support deployment and development.