India, Italy, and Kenya Sign Trilateral AI Partnership

The Government of India, the Government of Italy, and the Government of Kenya signed a trilateral Letter of Strategic Intent to develop artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa. Announced during the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, the partnership combines India's digital public goods, Italy's industrial AI Hub expertise, and Kenya's regional leadership to create scalable, sovereign AI pathways.

The agreement emphasizes data sovereignty and inclusive innovation, specifically targeting voice-enabled AI solutions for local African languages and low-connectivity environments. These tools aim to address critical challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, and financial inclusion. The initiative aligns with Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa and utilizes the AI Hub for Sustainable Development to bridge collaboration between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Short-term objectives include launching 15 pilot AI applications by the end of 2026, with a long-term goal of expanding to 100 projects. During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also unveiled the MANAV Vision for ethical AI foundations. The broader summit goal involves developing 100 AI Diffusion Pathways by 2030 through partnerships with organizations such as the UNDP and Anthropic.