Lesotho, India forge digital partnership
Ministers sign MoU to accelerate local digital transformation during high-level visit
’MATHATO SEBOKA
MASERU – Nthati Moorosi, Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology, and Innovation this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The signing ceremony took place during an official visit to Maseru by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita.
The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in digital governance and technology innovation.
According to Principal Secretary of the ministry, Kanono Ramashamole, the MoU will enable Lesotho to implement its national digital transformation strategies more effectively.
“This partnership is pivotal for deploying a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – the core objective of this agreement,” Ramashamole stated.
He emphasized the commitment of both the Lesotho government and its ministry to leverage India’s expertise in building foundational digital systems.
DPI encompasses critical technology frameworks such as digital identity, payment networks, and data exchange solutions, which underpin inclusive digital economies. The collaboration is expected to enhance service delivery, foster innovation, and bridge digital divides across Lesotho.
The signing marks a significant step in Lesotho-India relations, positioning Lesotho to harness India’s globally recognized DPI model for sustainable development.
Ramashamole pointed out that there are three things that they want to fulfil within this year through this MOU.
“There are particular things we want to do within this year is the digital ID, which is the foundation of everything. If we want the E-services, things like secure and verifiable IDs system that is what we need to put on the ground,” he further stated.
“Fortunately for us, we have started pilots and we are going to continue pilots with our Indian friends that will be seen in the coming months. At this stage we are working on technical solutions and installation of software.”
The second thing that they want to build from the ID system is a unified payment environment in Lesotho.
“For anyone who can go to India on the streets, you will experience how easy it is to make a payment, just by the click of a QR code, so that is where want to go as well, we want to have such payment ecosystem in our countries especially for the venders and informal businesses as a whole,” Ramashamole said.
They also want to enhance the information exchange across the ministries.
“We do not want our citizens to be asked the same information from different ministries when they go for services. If you are asked about personal details at one ministry, you should not be asked the second time. So that is what we are trying to achieve.”
Ramashamole said that they hope that the signing of the MOU, they will have time to discuss further collaboration areas, in the areas of broadcasting and media.
In her remarks, Minister Moorosi said that the MoU marks a new chapter, deepening collaboration in critical areas like Information Technology, digitalisation, governance and innovation using India Stack.
“As we align with international standards to maintain the confidence of our multilateral partners, let this agreement inspire sustainable progress and mutual prosperity for our people.”
Lesotho and India also celebrate over five decades of vibrant diplomatic relations, forged in 1971.
“The relations are strengthened through shared values of transparency, development, and South-South cooperation. From India’s Lines of Credit and the India-Lesotho Centre for Advanced Education in Information Technology to our growing trade and military training partnerships, our nations have built a foundation of trust and innovation,” Moorosi said.
She stated that the MoU marks a new chapter in both countries bilateral relations; a relationship that is rooted in mutual respect, shared aspirations, and a common vision for digital transformation.
“We are honoured to partner with India, a global leader in digital innovation, whose India Stack has demonstrated the power of scalable, inclusive, and secure digital infrastructure,” she stated.
She stated that through this partnership, Lesotho seeks to build capacity, exchange knowledge, and co-develop digital solutions that will empower our citizens, enhance public service delivery, and stimulate economic growth.
“We are particularly excited about the opportunities this collaboration presents for our youth, entrepreneurs, and institutions,” she continued, adding that “this Memorandum of Understanding, signed in the wake of our national digital transformation strategy launch, reaffirms our joint commitment to driving progress and innovation.
Central to the strategy’s digital government pillar is the development of robust digital public infrastructure and digital public goods, which is a cornerstone of modern governance.”
“We are, therefore, rolling out initiatives such as Digi Locker and digital IDs to simplify access to trusted services like digital certificates and to provide secure, reliable identity verification.
We also recognize the critical role of artificial intelligence in enhancing digital public infrastructure, enabling smarter, more responsive services that meet citizens’ needs effectively and equitably.”
She further stated: “Together, these advancements will strengthen Lesotho’s digital economy by enhancing global competitiveness for businesses and improving citizens’ lives through transparent, user-friendly technology solutions that leave no one behind.
Minister Shri Pabitra Margherita stated that Lesotho and India is about to complete 30 years but their relation is more than a century; that the bilateral relations between India and Lesotho is deeply rooted in shared values, democracy.
“This MOU is a testament of a commitment to each other, an example of how we can collaborate in science and technology. We are looking forward in working hand in hand especially in the field of information and technology,” Margherita said.
Margherita said that there are different collaborations that Lesotho and India can do together, that he discussed with Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane.
“I had a very fruitful meeting the prime minister as well and we had discussed different avenues that we can explore, where we can collaborate from agriculture, health care, capacity building, tourism and other areas for the development of both nations so that we can share our expertise, ideas and experience in each and very domain,” he stated.
