Morocco hosts GITEX Africa
Morocco, precisely Marrakech, will centre the global tech community’s attention on Africa’s united commitment to advancing the digital economy this 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.
This will precisely be the focus of GITEX Africa 2023, now the largest tech and start-up show in the African continent, which will make its highly anticipated debut from May 31 to June 2, with the final preparations underway across 10 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.
The event is the largest business gathering 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.
Minister of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Dr. Ghita Mezzour; the General Director of ADD, Sidi Mohammed Drissi Melyani and Chief Executive Officer of KAOUN International, GITEX Africa’s organizer, Trixie LohMirmand, addressed the media, yesterday.
Mezzour said, “The Kingdom of Morocco is proud to host GITEX Africa under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him. “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-up 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.”
On his part, Drissi Melyani, added that hosting GITEX Africa underlines Morocco’s commitment to work alongside the private and public sectors to accelerate Africa’s digital infrastructure development while promoting cross-continental e-governance policies that improve digital transparency, openness and process integration:
“This big event, organised under the high patronage of His Majesty 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 for networking between exhibitors, investors, researchers and tech operators around innovative solutions and digital transformation. This first edition will contribute to enhancing digital transition in Africa as a future innovation hub, led by its young talents and competitive start-ups.”
According to the organisers, 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.
Commenting, LohMirmand, said, “For too long, the world’s second-largest continent has been under-stated and overlooked for its profound digital opportunities and aspirations.
“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 leadership to build tangible meaningful outcomes.”
Source: The Guardian