The government of Togo has announced the signing of an agreement with a Polish bank, which will see the promotion of commercial drone technology in the west African country.
Signed in the capital Lome last month, the financing deal is worth an estimated €24 million underwritten by Poland’s state-owned Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, and is expected to unlock Togo’s potential on the development of next-generation drone and related technologies.
The agreement was signed during a visit by Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski.
“Togo remains committed to a digital transformation focused on technological sovereignty, local skills development and infrastructure aligned with the country’s long-term priorities,” said the Ministry of Public Service Efficiency and Digital Transformation in a statement.
Overseeing the implementation of this plan will be Cyber Defense Africa (CDA), a joint-venture enterprise between the government and Asseco Data Systems, whose original purpose was to protect Togolese citizens, businesses, organizations, and public administrations against cyber-attacks.
Now the CDA will be launching the Africa Drone Company in Lome to build national capabilities in drone design, assembly and deployment.
The drones are expected to be used in sectors including security, agriculture, logistics, industry and the monitoring of critical infrastructure.
The project aims to support agricultural modernisation, strengthen security systems, improve environmental management and accelerate Togo’s digital transformation.
The project will also see the creation of the National Digital Security Academy (NDSA), committed to training tomorrow's African experts in AI, autonomous systems and network engineering.
It will also include a training programme to develop local expertise and support the drone sector’s long-term growth, alongside cybersecurity measures aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and countering disinformation.
“We salute the Togolese Government for its bold vision of a confident digital sovereignty, and all the institutions that made this project possible,” the CDA said.
“It is on these foundations that CDA the reference joint venture of the Togolese technology sector, born from the partnership between the Republic of Togo and Asseco Data Systems, Poland's leading digital solutions group present in over 50 countries will carry forward this ambition.”
