GITEX AFRICA kicks off in Marrakech
The world is celebrating this week the launch in Marrakech of GITEX AFRICA, the largest tech & startup event in the continent which is hosting its very own tech gathering that unites every community in the innovation ecosystem across Africa.
The 2023 GITEX Africa Digital Summit, one of the largest tech and startup show in Africa, boasts an impressive lineup, with 900 exhibitors and start-ups, 250 leading investors, 250 conference speakers, and 30 ministerial delegations. The gathering has attracted tens of thousands of tech enthusiasts from 120 countries, making it a truly global affair.
The summit has prepared an exhibition space in a purpose-built super venue to allow startups across Africa to showcase their innovations with the possibility of attracting investors, business partners, mentors, and other opportunities that come along showcasing startups.
GITEX Africa is an opportunity for African startup owners and young programmers to get in touch with regional and global investors and business incubators. An opportunity as well to network with actors in both public and private sectors, the organizers say.
In an opening address, Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said GITEX Africa, held from May 31 to June 2, puts the continent at the forefront, in consecration of King Mohammed VI’s farsighted vision in favor of establishing a strategic partnership for a prosperous continent.
“The Kingdom of Morocco is proud to host this prestigious African trade show, given the profound significance of this event, which places the African continent at the forefront, in consecration of HM King Mohammed VI’s far-sighted vision to establish a strategic partnership between the various players in favor of a prosperous, integrated and united continent, through strengthening ties and exchanges between African countries, promoting their promising potential and consolidating the foundations of a solid and sustainable African economy,” said Akhannouch.
This flagship event, which illustrates the Kingdom’s cultural wealth, civilizational influence, and ongoing dynamism, is an opportunity to highlight the continent’s promising potential and the sustained efforts being made to develop skills in the fields of technology and innovation, he explained.
He said that Morocco fully embraces the digital momentum dictated by globalization, and remains determined to strengthen its position as a digitalization pole in order to accelerate the Kingdom’s economic and social development, and further consolidate its economic relations with the rest of the world.
“We aspire to guarantee public digital services for citizens, businesses and entrepreneurs. We are also working to create an appropriate ecosystem for innovative start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, and to provide a platform dedicated to producing and nurturing talent in this field,” he added.
As we begin to implement this roadmap, the organization of this first GITEX AFRICA in Morocco reinforces the efforts made by the Kingdom to realize these aspirations, said Akhannouch.
Following the example of GITEX Global, which has been held in Dubai for over 40 years, “GITEX Africa” aims to be an international platform for cutting-edge technology for all players in Africa, from both the private and public sectors, he noted, adding that this event is marked by the participation of over 900 companies, more than 250 speakers and over 100 government institutions.
Emphasizing that African businesses and economies are experiencing a tangible digital transformation as evidenced by the sharp rise (4.5 times more) in investment in start-ups between 2018 and 2022, the head of government explained that this feverish pace of digitization is attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions, as it has been necessary to adapt to the demands of this period in terms of modes of consumption, production, communication, and work.
Africa has worked hard to consolidate its position as a fertile breeding ground and propitious platform that supports innovation and the development of talent and skills, thanks to its natural wealth, the dynamism of its youth and its multiple and diverse economic potential, noted Akhannouch, explaining that in light of the economic turmoil and profound changes the world is experiencing, technology has become an essential lever for international economic development.
He stated further that GITEX AFRICA is a unique platform for exchanging views on the main opportunities and potential for making the African continent both a consumer and producer of digitization, emphasizing the need to encourage innovation and investment in this field in order to foster the emergence of unicorn companies, start-ups and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as supporting technological innovations in promising sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and personal data protection.
However, achieving this digital transformation requires, on the one hand, a suitable business climate and appropriate governance capable of attracting investors, and, on the other, effective investment in a reliable and inclusive digital infrastructure, he argued.
