GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) Africa 2024 technology fair has commenced in Marrakech, Morocco. Over 700 startups and 1,500 exhibitors from 130 countries are participating.
The first day of the three-day event began on Wednesday in Marrakech. It brought together professionals and executives from the tech industry to discuss and plan Africa’s digital future.
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The opening address
On the occasion of what he called a “platform to discuss how to position the continent both as a producer and consumer of digital technology, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch presided over the official opening ceremony.
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He said that digital transformation contributes to economic, social, and political growth in Africa in addition to technical advancement, making it an indispensable component in cooperation among African nations. He believes that digital innovation will be the key to Africa’s future success and that the continent is ready to start a new chapter in its history.
The prime minister announced the country’s upcoming Digital Strategy 2030, stating that public services in Morocco will soon be digitalised.
The experience at GITEX Africa
Several well-known corporations exist, including McKinsey, Huawei, PwC, and Visa. There is a deluge of new businesses in the food, health, mobility, financial technology, and environmental technology sectors. An early-stage startup called Social Convert can help you turn your social media activity into real money. Organisational messages can be neatly filed into folders according to topics with Focus Messenger.
Various panel discussions, including those involving artificial intelligence, go through eight stages.
Read also: GITEX Africa to showcase 200 startups from Morocco
Tamwilcom is sponsoring a $100,000 prize, and ten startups are competing for it at the Elevate stage. While most speakers manage to slip in a passing reference to AI, many of the ideas sound like tired old financial tech.
Presenters from Niger and the DRC are participating in a French-language panel discussion at the Future of Fintech stage. The hub is to host 800 startups, up from 400 the previous year. Furthermore, GITEX anticipates 50,000 attendees, a significant rise from the approximately 30,000 attendees in the previous edition. The GITEX Africa 2024 will be held until May 31.
Previously, on the fringes of a press conference, Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform had spoken with Morocco World News (MWN) about the significance of GITEX, highlighting the fact that the event will host 1,500 exhibitors, up from 900 the previous year.