Serpro, Brazil’s state-owned company specializing in digital government intelligence, is participating in Africa Tech Festival 2025, held from 11 to 13 November at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in South Africa. The event is considered the premier gathering point for technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and public-policy makers across the African continent, bringing together hundreds of companies and governments seeking to drive digital transformation and innovation in the region.

According to Serpro’s Events Manager, Tiago Arrais, the company’s presence at the festival is part of a strategic effort to expand its international footprint. “Africa Tech Festival represents an opportunity to boost business on the continent and to reinforce Serpro’s position as a provider of technology and innovation for governments and institutions. We are showcasing our extensive expertise in delivering secure digital identity — something that already benefits more than 85 million people through the Digital Driver’s License (CNH Digital),” Arrais explains.

Throughout the event, Serpro is presenting its portfolio of digital solutions for governments, with special emphasis on GovID, a system for issuing and managing digital identity. At its booth, visitors can experience a hands-on demonstration of digital identity issuance.

Partnerships and New Business

Serpro’s International Business Analyst, Daniel Patriota, highlights that the company’s participation has already produced concrete results. “We are presenting solutions for digital identity, electronic driver’s licenses, and consultancy as a service to governments in South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, and even Asian countries such as Sri Lanka,” he notes.

“We have already closed eight contracts with technology and telecom companies from Pretoria and Cape Town, which will use Serpro’s intelligence technology to operate in Brazil. We have more than 20 advanced prospects in negotiation, and our expectation is to further expand commercial ties between Brazil and Africa,” the analyst adds.

One of the companies that contracted Serpro solutions is Forus Digital, a South African firm focused on digital financial inclusion and responsible for an ecosystem of services designed to enable secure, real-time, zero-cost transactions for users. “This partnership with Serpro is a milestone for us and strengthens South-South cooperation,” says Chris Prinsloo, co-founder and Head of Global Business Development.

The executive says Forus expects to deepen collaboration with the Brazilian IT state-owned company.
“Serpro brings a world-class layer of trust. Brazil is a very important partner for the African continent, and we are proud to stand alongside Serpro in these initiatives here. We want to strengthen this cooperation in other sectors as well,” Prinsloo adds.

Brazil and South Africa Share Similar Challenges

For Nkosinathi Ndlovu, a journalist at TechCentral, a leading South African technology outlet, both countries — being emerging economies — face many of the same challenges. “Like Brazil, South Africa is a geographically vast country where millions of citizens need to access public services every day,” he explains.

“I consider GovID an excellent initiative. In this context, implementing a digital identification system like this could significantly transform the way public services are delivered,” the journalist continues.

According to him, a digital identity solution of this kind would allow citizens to be identified more quickly and securely, facilitating access to the financial system and other formal services, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. “Learning from Brazil’s experience and adapting this technology to South Africa’s reality would be extremely beneficial for our country,” Ndlovu concludes.

Track Record of Cooperation and Global Presence

Serpro’s international operations have increasingly positioned the company as a vector of Brazil’s technological diplomacy, with an emphasis on South-South cooperation and multilateral digital-transformation initiatives. In Africa, a key highlight is Angola, where Serpro maintains an active digital-transformation consultancy contract, signed in 2025 as part of a strategic partnership between the Brazilian and Angolan governments.

Beyond Africa, Serpro has been strengthening its presence in international forums and economic blocs such as the G20 and BRICS, presenting solutions like GovID Global and Datavalid Global—technologies that demonstrate Brazil’s ability to deliver digital public services grounded in technological sovereignty, security, and interoperability.

Africa’s Technology and Innovation Ecosystem

Celebrating its 30th edition, Africa Tech Festival is a platform that showcases the dynamism of the African tech ecosystem and seeks practical, sustainable solutions to the continent’s challenges. Serpro’s presence reinforces the company’s commitment to sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and supporting governments in building more efficient and inclusive digital economies.

“We are bringing Brazil’s digital-transformation experience to the world and demonstrating that Serpro is prepared to contribute to global technological inclusion—always with ethics, security, and sovereignty,” summarizes Tiago Arrais.