Announcements Business Economy Fintech Gadgets Technology Technology Trends

Morocco unites global tech community’s commitment to advancing African digital economy at momentous GITEX Africa launch

 

 

Debut of Africa’s largest tech and start-up show to welcome 900 companies to explore, discover, and connect to real opportunities in world’s rising digital economy

 

H.E Dr Ghita Mezzour: “We’re witnessing a historic event, the largest tech networking and business event in the African continent”

 

 

Morocco will centre the global tech community’s attention on Africa’s united commitment to advancing the digital economy next week, converging the best minds from governments, businesses, big tech, start-ups, investors and youths to accelerate and catalyse the continent’s ambitious digital transformation journey. 

 

GITEX Africa 2023, now the largest tech and start-up show in the African continent, will make its highly anticipated debut from 31 May-2 June, with the final preparations underway across ten halls and 45,000sqm of exhibition space in a purpose-built super venue at Place Bab Jdid, Bd Al Yarmouk in the Red City of Marrakech. It will welcome 900 big tech companies, government entities, start-ups and participants from more than 100 countries, while attracting tens of thousands of attendees from all over the world. 

 

GITEX Africa is the largest business event launch of any industry in the Middle East and Africa in recent years, and is affiliated with GITEX Global in Dubai, the world’s largest tech and start-up show, rated by global tech executives as the world’s best global tech event.

 

Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, GITEX Africa is hosted by the Digital Development Agency (ADD), under the authority of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform.

 

Addressing media at the show’s official preview press conference today was H.E Dr Ghita Mezzour, Minister of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform; Sidi Mohammed Drissi Melyani, the General Director of ADD; and Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, GITEX Africa’s organiser. 

 

In attendance were GITEX Africa’s official institutional partners the ANRT (Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency), AMDIE (Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency), ONMT (Moroccan National Tourist Office), ONDA (National Airports Office), Royal Air Maroc, and ONCF (Moroccan National Railway Office).

“The Kingdom of Morocco is proud to host GITEX Africa under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him,” said H.E. Dr Mezzour.  “We’re witnessing a historic event, the first ever edition of GITEX Africa, and the largest tech networking and learning business event in the African continent.

 

“GITEX Africa will be an opportunity for Moroccan and African start-ups owners and young programmers to get in touch with regional and global investors and business incubators. An opportunity as well to networking with actors in both public and private sectors.”

 

Mr. Sidi Mohammed Drissi Melyani, the General Director of ADD, added that hosting GITEX Africa underlines Morocco’s commitment to work alongside the private and public sector to accelerate Africa’s digital infrastructure development while promoting cross-continental e-governance policies that improve digital transparency, openness and process integration: “The Kingdom of Morocco as well as the whole African continent is so honoured to host the first edition of GITEX Africa Morocco, which will take place in Marrakech from May 31st to June 2nd, 2023,” said Mr. Melyani.

 

“This big event, organised under the high patronage of his Majesty the King Mohammed VI, is an important opportunity to value the efforts deployed by all the Moroccan stakeholders in the field of digital development. It is also a platform of networking between exhibitors, investors, researchers and tech operators around innovative solutions and digital transformation.  This first edition will definitely contribute to enhance digital transition in Africa as a future innovation hub, led by its young talents and competitive start-ups.”

 

Magnifying Africa’s collective digital innovation ambitions and achievements

 

GITEX Africa’s impressive scale in its debut edition reflects the ambitions of Africa’s digital movement, with cross-continental initiatives such as Smart Africa’s vision to create a single digital market in Africa by 2030 propelling the continent to the forefront of the global digital economy.

 

“For too long, the world’s second largest continent has been under-stated and overlooked for its profound digital opportunities and aspirations,” commented Ms. LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International.  

 

“At GITEX Africa, our mission is to curate an event that will serve the purpose of the African community in accessing business development, investment and learning opportunities.  We focus on empowering the new generation of tech and creative talents to augment the culture of entrepreneurship and provide a single occasion that shall bring together the public and private sector leaderships to build tangible meaningful outcomes.”

 

That GITEX Africa hoisted the sold-out sign fuelling further expansion months before its grand opening is testament to the world’s confidence and optimism in the African digital opportunity, amplified by figures that underline the aspirations of African countries in their quest for digital excellence.

 

Africa’s vibrant start-up ecosystem also continues to grab headlines with the creation of seven unicorns over the last few years while according to analysts Briter Bridges, African start-ups raised a total of US$5.4 billion across 900-plus deals in 2022.

 

The influx of global interest will see GITEX Africa 2023 host more than 400 disruptive start-ups from 30 countries, including 200 international award-winning start-ups and 11 unicorns eager to share their achievements and access the promising African innovation hub.  

 

All will have the opportunity to connect with 250 investors from 34 countries with US$200 billion worth of assets under management. As the ultimate start-up incubator and magnet for flourishing VC funds, GITEX Africa will deliver a structured and carefully curated scouting platform for these investors, of which 70 percent are coming from outside of Africa. 

 

Added Ms. LohMirmand: “GITEX integrates Africa strategically into the hyper-connected tech ecosystem across 100 countries. It now firmly plugs Africa into the global entrepreneurial innovation economy boasting of resources imperative for the region to dynamize its digital transformation mission.”

 

Accelerating the Moroccan digital development strategy

 

GITEX Africa 2023 will also accentuate the progress of Morocco’s digital development strategy, strengthening its position among the top three African countries with the best ICT infrastructure, and underlining its status as having one of the continent’s most advanced telecommunications markets.

 

According to analysts IDC, Morocco’s IT market, comprising hardware, software and IT services, is expected to reach a value of US$1.7 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 4.3 percent to reach US$1.9 billion in 2026. In 2023, growth is expected to be driven by enterprise and service provider spending in the North African country as organisations increasingly look to adopt hybrid cloud as a step towards their digital transformation initiatives.

 

World’s best minds gather at Africa’s most impactful leadership conference agenda

 

Africa’s most impactful leadership conference programme will meanwhile gather 250-plus speakers from 50 countries to share valuable exchanges and insights with a curious business audience motivated to draw on international experience applied to an African-centric context. 

 

The GITEX Africa Digital Summit will lead ten conference tracks comprising 140-plus hours of mind-stretching content exploring the most pertinent transformational topics advancing Africa’s digital agenda, from generative AI and digital cities, or Fintech and agritech, to healthcare, energy, innovation, sustainable development goals, and a spotlight on the world’s most exciting start-up ecosystem.

 

GITEX Africa 2023 is open from 11:30am to 6:00pm on 31st May, and from 10:00am to 6:00pm on the 1st and 2nd June.  Admission is for trade professionals only with a special invitation for students aged 16 years and older on day three.

 

More information is available at www.gitexafrica.com.

 

-ENDS-

 

Website:

https://www.gitexafrica.com/

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Energy

NNPC Ltd Secures 10-Year Gas Supply Agreement with Dangote Refinery

post-image

 

In a significant development for Nigeria’s industrial sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, through its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), has successfully executed a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. The agreement, signed by Barr. Justin Ezeala, Managing Director of NGML, and Aliko Dangote, President/CEO of the Dangote Group, took place at Dangote’s Corporate Head Office in Falomo, Lagos State.

The 10-year deal will see NGML supply Dangote Refinery with 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D) of natural gas, which will serve both as power generation fuel and as feedstock for the refinery’s operations in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. The agreement outlines that 50 MMSCF/D will be a firm supply, with the remaining 50 MMSCF/D allocated as interruptible natural gas supply.

This strategic partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy to harness Nigeria’s vast gas resources to boost industrial…

Read More
Business Economy Gadgets Government Society Software

NITDA Director General Emphasizes Cybersecurity Governance at Jaiz Bank Board Meeting

post-image

 

In response to growing global cyber threats, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), delivered an essential presentation on cybersecurity to the Board of Directors at Jaiz Bank’s headquarters in Abuja. Addressing the board’s role in strengthening cybersecurity governance, Abdullahi focused on critical areas such as risk management, resource allocation, and readiness to counter cyber attacks within the financial sector.

During his presentation, Abdullahi highlighted the Nigerian government’s ongoing efforts to secure digital assets through the National Cybersecurity Architecture, overseen by the Office of the National Security Adviser. This initiative underscores a national commitment to fortifying the country’s cyber defenses in the face of increasing threats.

Quoting renowned investor Warren Buffett, Abdullahi emphasized the value of a bank’s reputation, warning, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only a few minutes of cyber-incident to ruin it.” He urged the board to prioritize cybersecurity…

Read More
Announcements Business Investments Society Software Sponsored Technology Trends

Feature: CodeFest International Launches Ebonyi Hackathon to Drive Tech Innovation in Ebonyi State

post-image

 

As technology continues to reshape industries and societies across Nigeria, CodeFest International is stepping up to bring this transformation to Ebonyi State with the launch of the Ebonyi Hackathon. This groundbreaking event is designed to spark innovation, cultivate talent, and address local challenges by fostering a tech-forward ecosystem in the region. We spoke with the organizers to gain insight into what inspired this initiative, their goals, and the future of the Ebonyi Hackathon.

Inspiring Innovation and Economic Growth

According to the organizers, the Ebonyi Hackathon is driven by a clear vision: to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Ebonyi State. “The hackathon was inspired by the need to foster technological advancement, enhance skill development, and support economic growth within the region,” they explained. By bringing together developers, designers, and entrepreneurs, the event aims to tackle real-world problems while creating opportunities for tech-savvy youths to contribute solutions that impact their…

Read More
Business Culture Economy

Charles Uche Emembolu, Founder of Dexude, Reflects on Nigeria’s Innovation Growth at 5th ISN Annual Gathering 2024

post-image

 

The 5th ISN Annual Gathering held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, this month marked a significant milestone in the development of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. The event, with the theme “Scaling Together: Building a Collaborative Culture for Nigerian Innovation,” was an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and look ahead at the ambitious goals for the future.

Charles Uche Emembolu, Founder of Dexude and Chairman of the Innovation Support Network (ISN) Board, expressed pride in the accomplishments of the network since its inception in 2019. Emembolu highlighted the impressive growth of ISN, which now supports 207 innovation hubs across 30 states, up from 75 in its early years. The network has also been instrumental in supporting over 5,000 new businesses annually and impacting the lives of more than 42,000 beneficiaries, including youth, women, and people with disabilities.

“We’ve come a long way, and this year’s gathering is a testament to the power…

Read More
Business Culture Economy Environment

CIF Announces Historic Climate Finance Milestone with CCMM Listing on London Stock Exchange at COP29

post-image

 

 

Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), today joined UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and World Bank President Ajay Banga at COP29 to unveil a groundbreaking achievement for climate finance. The CIF Capital Market Mechanism (CCMM) has been officially listed on the London Stock Exchange, marking a global first in climate finance.

This new initiative represents CIF’s most ambitious step yet to mobilize private capital for high-impact clean energy and technology investments, particularly in developing countries and emerging economies. CCMM will empower CIF to unlock the potential of capital markets and drive substantial climate investments worldwide.

“We are proud to take this major leap forward in mobilizing climate finance at scale,” said Gbadegesin. “Bold and creative solutions are essential to tap into private finance, and this listing is a testament to the potential of capital markets in addressing the climate crisis. Our goal is to ensure that…

Read More
Business Economy Finance Fintech

Singapore-based TransferTo and Pan-African Ecobank Group Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Financial Access and Cross-Border Payments Across Africa

post-image

ransferTo (www.TransferTo.com), a  Singapore-based global technology group, and Ecobank Group (https://Ecobank.com), the leading pan-African financial institution, announce a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), laying the groundwork to transform financial access and cross-border payment solutions across Africa.

 

This strategic partnership brings together TransferTo’s companies —  Thunes (www.Thunes.com), Ezra (https://Ezra.world), DT One (www.DTOne.com) and Tookitaki (www.Tookitaki.com) – with Ecobank (https://Ecobank.com) to expand access to credit, digital products and cross-border payment solutions. The collaboration will create a safe, inclusive financial ecosystem that bridges markets, enabling swift reliable payments across borders and offers financial empowerment tools to millions of Africans and businesses.

By uniting their expertise, TransferTo and Ecobank will drive financial inclusion, empower underserved communities, and establish secure, seamless digital pathways that connect Africa’s economies with the rest of the world.

Peter De Caluwe,…

Read More
Business Economy

Gwandu Urges African Countries to Unite for 600MHz Mobile Spectrum Allocations

post-image

Dr. Bashir Gwandu, former Acting Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and former EVC/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has urged African countries to unite and work  together to secure 600 megahertz (MHz) band mobile spectrum allocations.

 The independent telecom expert stated this at the just concluded 9th Sub-Sahara Spectrum Management Conference 2024, held in Nairobi, Kenya on 6-7 November, organised by Forum Global on the third theme: “From WRC-23 to WRC-27- Emerging Landscapes  & Technologies and the Path Ahead.”

Dr. Gwandu who held various chairmanship positions at the both the ITU and Commonwealth including the ITU Radiocommunications Advisory Group (the RAG), The Joint Task Group, and Commonwealth ITU Group (CIG), made the call during his opening remarks on the 600MHz spectrum discussions.

While making a presentation on the session: “The shape of Post-WRC spectrum ecosystems”, he called for…

Read More
Announcements Business Featured International Opinion Society

Moppets Baby Food Achieves HACCP Certification, Setting New Standards in Food Safety

post-image

 

In a significant milestone for Moppets Baby Food, Engr. Roberta Edu, CEO of the popular children’s food brand, recently announced their achievement of HACCP certification—a globally recognized food safety standard. Moppets, a subsidiary of Frills by Roberta, achieved this certification after rigorous assessments and audits, underscoring their commitment to quality and safety.

Edu shared the journey behind this accomplishment: “If you follow our Moppet Foods story closely, one thing you’re going to take away is how daring we’ve been over the years and how committed we are to excellence.” She recalled that upon learning the brand needed HACCP certification to supply to a specific NGO, the challenge initially appeared daunting. However, her determination turned that challenge into a goal, setting the company on a path toward stringent safety compliance.

 

Moppet Foods undertook comprehensive audits…

Read More