The strategic potential of the Blue-Raman submarine cable initiative was highlighted on 20 June 2025 at the high-level event ‘The Mattei Plan for Africa and Global Gateway: A common effort with the African Continent’ in Rome, co-chaired the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.
The initiative – co-funded with a contribution of €37 million by the European Commission and supported by Italian digital infrastructure leader Sparkle – will enhance connectivity, stimulate research and innovation, and support technological convergence between Europe, Africa, and India.
The project involves key research and education networks, including GÉANT for Europe and the UbuntuNet Alliance for Africa, and benefits from the technical expertise of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “Today we are announcing a groundbreaking new project for East Africa. Global Gateway is supporting the Blue-Raman undersea cable. This cable is a major new data connection that connects India via the Gulf and Djibouti to Europe. Now, together with Italy, we will finance an extension of Blue-Raman from its African hub in Djibouti to Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. This will connect East Africa to huge digital markets. It is a whole world of new opportunities, for Africa, for Europe and beyond.”
The progress of the strategic partnership under the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the Mattei Plan for Africa is now set to be reviewed at the Global Gateway Forum on 9-10 October 2025 in Brussels.
Read the joint press release by the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_1582
Watch President von der Leyen’s full speech: https://www.youtube.com/live/VN2_XxLEoTk?si=wgbihHRH1xydMgT_
