The world’s biggest Black technology conference, joined by more than 40,000 attendees, is to hear an address on Bermuda’s unique strategic position in international digital connectivity and its growing relationship with Google.

Alex Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, is a speaker at the 2026 Afrotech Conference in Houston, Texas, running this week until Friday.

The conference, marking its tenth anniversary, bring together global technology leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators to explore emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Ms Lightbourne is to speak on Thursday under the theme “How Small Nations Are Winning Big in Global Tech Infrastructure”.

Her ministry has led digital infrastructure development in areas such as the Department of Energy, telecommunications policy and digital transformation, added to her portfolio in July.

She has overseen the island’s developing relationship with Google on its subsea cable investments, with the Nuvem and Sol systems landing in Bermuda in June. In August, Google announced the Canoa project connecting Bermuda to the Dominican Republic.

Ms Lightbourne said: “Bermuda is demonstrating its key role in shaping global technology infrastructure through strategic partnerships, forward-thinking policy and regulatory certainty.”

She is also scheduled to join executive events, including the first Afrotech Policy Breakfast.