DAR ES SALAAM, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of the East African Digital Leaders Forum on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) began on Wednesday in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha to review progress, facilitate joint action, and foster cross-border digital infrastructure development in the region.

The East African Community (EAC) said in a statement that the objective of the three-day meeting, supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), is to assess the implementation of the DPI initiatives across member states.

The statement added that the meeting will focus on building a trusted DPI with safeguards and facilitating cross-border collaboration by bringing together interoperable digital identity, e-payment, and data exchange mechanisms across the region.

Addressing the forum's opening session, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva emphasized the importance of digital public infrastructure in driving economic growth and social development.

"Unlike traditional infrastructure, DPI holds the extraordinary potential to democratize access, accelerate inclusion, and ensure that every citizen, regardless of location or income, has the opportunity to participate in the digital economy," said Nduva.