This GITEX 2025, CIO Africa engaged in an enlightening joint conversation with the father-son duo — Mitesh Shah, Co-founder and Managing Director of Mitsumi Distribution, and Rajveer Shah, Director Mitsumi Distribution, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics. The discussion offered thoughtful insights into the region’s growing tech landscape and Mitsumi’s bold new chapter of growth.
With the signing of new partnerships, Mitsumi is gearing up for greater regional dominance and the delivery of cutting-edge solutions.
What’s new at Mitsumi this year at GITEX Africa, and how do these developments align with your broader strategy and vision for the region?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah
At this year’s GITEX Africa, Mitsumi announced the addition of APC, SanDisk, PNY, and NETGEAR to its extensive portfolio further strengthening its position as the go-to distributor for end-to-end IT infrastructure, power, storage, and connectivity solutions. This move reflects Mitsumi’s continued focus on expanding its value-added offerings and supporting digital transformation across Africa.
With a vision to be at the forefront of digital transformation, Mitsumi continues to focus on building strong alliances and delivering cutting-edge technologies that address the evolving needs of enterprises and governments alike.
What specific future- ready IT and enterprise solutions can partners and customers expect to see rolled out in the coming months?
Answered by Mr. Rajveer Shah
Mitsumi has a very diverse portfolio. With our recent investments in multiple global we are also focused on building strong solution offerings. We are working on solutions like Cloudera and several robust security platforms. But what’s exciting is our expansion into AI in a very big way. We are expanding our footprint significantly, especially across Africa. Our team has developed real use cases tailored to the region, and we are ready with services that meet specific market needs.
In addition to offering innovative hardware and software, Mitsumi offers value-added services including channel development, logistics optimization, and technical support – ensuring partners gain speed, efficiency, and resilience in their operations.
Which sectors are showing the fastest technology adoption in the region right now?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah
From what we have seen, education, healthcare, and financial services—including the public sector—are experiencing very fast growth. In Africa, digitalizing public sector operations has always been a challenge. But now, with AI and faster server technologies, there is rapid change. Government is investing heavily in digitalization. So, I would say public sector is growing the fastest, followed by healthcare and education. FinTech is also booming, with companies working on digital finance and currency solutions. Over the next two to three years, I see major investments coming into the financial sector.
As a long-time leader in IT distribution, how is Mitsumi evolving to stay ahead of the fast-changing technology landscape?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah
We are constantly evolving, guided by strategic foresight, strong partner relationships, and operational excellence. Every year, we sign around 10 to 15 new brands across Africa and the Middle East. We also have an in-house R&D team that focuses on developing new technologies. Their job is to simplify these technologies, train our dealer network, and help implement them across sectors like education and healthcare. Our goal is to bring cutting-edge solutions into the region first. That is why we continuously invest in local resources and infrastructure.
What measures do you take to ensure that technology aligns with the specific needs of different regions and industries?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah
At Mitsumi, we know that one size doesn’t fit all. That is why we work closely with businesses of all sizes. Our value division is focused on security, while our cloud division is expanding rapidly. A few years ago, we identified that AI would be the next big thing, so we have been investing heavily in it since then. Being close to technology every single day means constant learning—not just for our team, but for us as leaders too. We take those learnings and implement them immediately across our portfolio in the Middle East and Africa. That has been key to our fast-paced growth.
What are your company’s long-term goals regarding AI, cloud, and data sovereignty?
Answered by Mr. Rajveer Shah
Our long-term goals center on empowering businesses to leverage intelligent, secure, and compliant technology solutions. We see AI and cloud as the pillars of the future digital economy, enabling businesses to scale faster, optimize operations, and unlock new opportunities. We aim to make AI more accessible, helping businesses harness the power of machine learning, natural language processing, and automation to drive efficiency. Regarding cloud, we envision providing robust, scalable infrastructure solutions that offer flexibility while maintaining strong data sovereignty standards. Data sovereignty — ensuring that businesses and nations maintain control over their own data — is central to our mission.
Today, an increasing number of enterprises in MEA and around the world are seeking secure cloud environments. At Mitsumi, we are committed to helping our customers implement solutions that comply with local regulations and respect data privacy rights. By partnering with trusted providers such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, and focusing on compliance, security, and innovation, we aim to be at the forefront of shaping the future of AI and cloud adoption.
In what ways is the ongoing technology boom transforming the roles and expectations of channel partners in the MEA region?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah – Co-Chairman & Managing Director
The technology boom is redefining the role of channel partners across the MEA region. Traditionally, channel partners acted primarily as distributors and resellers, but now they are evolving into trusted consultants, solution architects, and customer success managers. Partners are expected to offer more than just products — they need to provide end-to-end solutions, from deployment and integration to post-sale support and ongoing innovation.
With businesses looking for more personalized, tailored solutions, partners must be able to guide customers through complex digital transformations. Mitsumi supports this shift by providing partners with the necessary tools, training, and insights to help them add value throughout the customer lifecycle. We also work with partners to enhance their technical capabilities, ensuring they are equipped to handle the growing complexity of modern IT solutions and meet the evolving needs of their customers. Mitsumi significantly contributes as a distributor by providing comprehensive training to partners, ensuring they possess the necessary skills to manage complex solutions, integrate them, and achieve the desired outcomes for our customers. Working end-to-end and helping them to digest their infrastructure solutions.
What are your views on the role of democratized technology in empowering underdeveloped regions?
Answered by Mr. Mitesh Shah
Democratized technology has the potential to revolutionize underdeveloped regions by offering access to advanced tools and resources that were previously out of reach. By making technology affordable and accessible, we can empower local communities, foster entrepreneurship, and improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure. In underdeveloped regions, where resources may be limited, democratized technology enables innovation and creates new economic opportunities.
At Mitsumi, we are deeply committed to playing a role in this transformation by ensuring our technology offerings are inclusive, scalable, and accessible to diverse communities. We work closely with local governments, NGOs, and businesses to ensure that technology reaches those who need it most, helping to bridge the digital divide and foster sustainable development. We go beyond business, bringing sentimental value, and play a pivotal role in this process, contributing significantly to the success of our operations and making technology available for the greater good.
