The event promises to integrate Africa into the global technology ecosystem and business innovation economy.

The Moroccan red city of Marrakech will host the long-awaited first edition of GITEX Africa 2023, the largest technology and start-up event on the continent, between May 31 and June 2.

The event will bring together 900 technology companies, government entities, investors, start-ups, large technology companies and young people from more than 100 countries, with the aim of "accelerating and catalyzing the continent's ambitious digital transformation journey," the organizers say in a statement. Press release.

Marrakech's Bab Jdid venue will serve as the backdrop for the event, which will allow participants to "explore, discover and connect with real opportunities in the rising global digital economy," the statement added.

The event will include a wide range of lectures. But the heart of GITEX Africa lies in an “impactful leadership conference”, which will feature more than 250 speakers from 50 countries.

Experts will share valuable ideas and experiences, with the aim of applying international knowledge to the unique African context.

Meanwhile, the GITEX Africa Digital Summit will host ten conference themes, addressing various issues such as generative artificial intelligence, digital cities, financial technology, agricultural technology, healthcare, energy, innovation and sustainable development goals, among others.

In addition to featuring the “best minds,” GITEX Africa, organized by the Agency for Digital Development (ADD), will host tens of thousands of attendees from around the world.

Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate of the Head of the Moroccan Government in charge of the Digital Transition and Administration Reform, commented on the imminence of the event: «We are attending a historic event, the first edition of GITEX Africa, and the largest business learning and creation of technological networks of the African continent.

Mezzour added that the event will serve as a golden opportunity for Moroccan and African start-ups and young programmers to meet and network with regional and global investors, business incubators and leaders from the public and private sectors.

He made these statements during the official press conference prior to GITEX Africa, which was attended by the event's partners.

For his part, ADD Director General Sidi Mohammed Drissi Melyani stressed that hosting GITEX Africa reflects Morocco's commitment to working with the public and private sectors to support the continent's digital transformation.

The event is "an important opportunity to value the efforts deployed by all Moroccan stakeholders in the field of digital development," he stressed. "It is also a networking platform between exhibitors, investors, researchers and technology operators around innovative solutions and digital transformation."

Furthermore, Melyani underlined the organizers' conviction that the event will contribute to boosting Africa's digital transition and positioning the continent as a "future center of innovation, led by its young talents and competitive startups."

Support Africa's goals

The main objective of the event is to amplify Africa's collective ambitions and achievements in digital innovation, organizers said. In this sense, GITEX Africa serves as a catalyst for Smart Africa's vision of establishing a unified digital market across the continent by 2030, placing Africa at the forefront of the global digital economy.

“For too long, the world's second largest continent has been undervalued and overlooked for its profound digital opportunities and aspirations,” argued Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of Kaoun International, organizer of GITEX Africa.

He emphasized the event's desire to train Africa's next generation of technology talent, foster entrepreneurship and facilitate impactful collaborations between public and private sector leaders.

“At GITEX Africa, our mission is to organize an event that serves the African community to access business development, investment and learning opportunities,” LohMirmand stressed.

The overwhelming global response to GITEX Africa is a testament to the "world's confidence and optimism" in the potential of the African digital landscape, the statement added.

Organizers celebrated Africa's "vibrant" startup ecosystem, noting that seven unicorns were created on the continent in 2022. Additionally, African start-ups raised more than $5.4 billion (MAD 55.1 billion) last year.

This momentum is set to continue as the event attracts more than 400 disruptive startups, including international award winners and unicorns keen to share their achievements in Africa's promising innovation hub.

Participating startups will have the opportunity to meet more than 250 investors, who manage more than 200 billion dollars (2 trillion MAD) in assets, offering unparalleled opportunities for financing and growth.

In addition to integrating Africa into the global technology ecosystem, the event promises to offer a platform aimed at accelerating Morocco's digital development strategy, consolidating its position as one of the three African countries with the best ICT infrastructure.

As the Moroccan IT market continues to grow, with a projected value of $1.7 billion (MAD 17.3 billion) in 2023, the event promises to boost spending by businesses and service providers in the country, encouraging adoption of hybrid cloud and facilitating digital transformation initiatives.

Source: MoroccoWorldNews