NVIDIA to Launch First AI Factory in Africa, Expanding to Multiple Countries

NVIDIA will build its first artificial intelligence factory in Africa in South Africa. This is the result of a partnership with Cassava Technologies, the holding company of Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa. "Cassava plans to deploy NVIDIA’s computer acceleration and AI software, using NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures, in its data centers in South Africa by June 2025," the group said in a statement. After South Africa, NVIDIA will conquer other African markets. "Expansion is also planned in its other data centers in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria. Cassava’s AI factory will leverage the company’s high-speed, low-latency pan-African fiber optic network and sustainable data centers to provide AI as a Service (AIaaS)," the same source said.

"This strategic move strongly illustrates that Africa has become a space of major opportunities, particularly in a sector like artificial intelligence," notes Abdelilah Kadili, president of the Tamkine Foundation, an AI expert. NVIDIA’s interest in Africa is explained by its potential: sustained demographic growth, accelerated digitization and growing demand for technological solutions. Morocco attracts the group for its assets: its proximity to Europe, an attractive tax framework for technology companies, and a stated ambition to become a regional digital hub. "The information technology and digital sector in Morocco has been considerably structured in recent years to become a real lever for economic transformation. This national ambition is reflected in concrete initiatives that position the country not only as a regional hub, but as a gateway between Europe and Africa in terms of digitization," explains Redouane El Haloui, president of Apebi, to Challenge.

He will add: "Being a technology hub means not only hosting companies on its soil, but building a solid ecosystem capable of attracting and connecting the world’s major players to African dynamics. This involves the establishment of strategic major companies, but also the implementation of structuring strategies at the continental scale." According to him, Morocco will have to prove its ability to meet NVIDIA’s requirements. El Haloui is convinced that the kingdom will be able to meet this challenge provided that it supports the African Federation of Digital Enterprises (FADB) created to operationally support the implementation of national African visions in terms of digital transformation.