TLDR: Burkina Faso has initiated a national workshop to develop its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan, focusing on local talent, ethical data use, and digital infrastructure. Concurrently, Vietnam is drafting a new Law on Digital Transformation to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies like AI and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), with a strong emphasis on government-led initiatives and human capital development.
Burkina Faso has taken a significant step towards embracing the digital future by launching a one-day National Situational Analysis Workshop aimed at formulating its inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Organized by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Postal and Electronic Communications, the event gathered government agencies and private stakeholders to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive national AI strategy. Borlli Michel Somé, Secretary General of the Ministry, highlighted the workshop’s structure, which divided participants into working groups focusing on critical areas such as governance, ethics, data, innovation, research, and training. A notable aspect of the initiative is its emphasis on leveraging local talent, rather than relying heavily on foreign experts, to develop solutions tailored to the country’s unique context.
Somé underscored the importance of this endeavor, stating, “This plan must deliver concrete and lasting solutions. AI represents a chance to create homegrown innovations that benefit all citizens.” The Ministry plans to introduce a provisional roadmap for 2026-2028 as part of the broader strategy. Key pillars of Burkina Faso’s AI strategy include expanding digital infrastructure to support AI-powered services, establishing robust data governance for ethical and transparent data use, fostering human capital development to enhance the talent pool, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The strategy also prioritizes international cooperation and ensuring AI development aligns with national values.
In parallel, Vietnam is advancing its own ambitious digital transformation agenda with a new Law on Digital Transformation. The Ministry of Science and Technology is spearheading the drafting of this legislation, which aims to create an interdisciplinary framework to bridge the physical and digital worlds – an area not fully addressed by existing laws. Unlike previous regulations that primarily focused on technology service providers, this new draft law places a significant mandate on the government to drive the adoption of emerging technologies.
Insiders indicate that the Vietnamese government will be required to allocate substantial state budget funds to modernize its digital infrastructure and mobilize resources for new infrastructure across key economic sectors. The law will also compel government agencies to pursue innovation driven by emerging technologies, with transparency and efficiency as core principles. Furthermore, relevant government bodies will be tasked with supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in their digitization efforts, promoting local digital platforms, and fostering a competitive environment while safeguarding consumer rights. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and AI have been identified by the Ministry of Science and Technology as central to this new legislation, which will also focus on developing a skilled workforce with universal digital skills for the Vietnamese population.
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Vietnam has already made considerable progress in its digitization journey, including legalizing digital assets in June and advancing its digital ID adoption program. Milestones have also been achieved in healthcare, with electronic prescriptions integrated into the national VNeID platform, and in media, through a partnership between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency (YNA) for digital transformation in reporting. The article emphasizes that for AI to operate effectively and ethically, it requires integration with an enterprise blockchain system to ensure data quality, ownership, and immutability.
