GITEX Africa, the continent’s largest and most influential tech and start-up
event is on high momentum to welcome the year’s biggest tech conversations and
collaborative ventures in Marrakech, Morocco.
Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco,
the 2nd edition of GITEX Africa will take place from 29-31 May 2024, under the authority of
the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform and hosted by the
Digital Development Agency (ADD).
The 2 nd blockbuster edition follows its pioneering debut in 2023, rated by the attending tech
community as the world’s best tech launch event. The intense global interest in exploring
diverse tech themes is now powering GITEX Africa’s growth, fuelling momentum in a
maturing digital ecosystem while turbocharging a big tech rush into one of the world’s most
exciting and dynamic markets.
GITEX Africa 2024 shall welcome thousands of attendees from across the continent for
large scale discourse and future-focused collaborations, while accelerating tech’s massive
advances across diverse industries, from cloud and IOT, cybersecurity, digital health, and
future finance, to consumer tech, telecoms, and the great hype of artificial intelligence.
H.E. Dr Ghita Mezzour, the Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition and Administration
Reform, met with organisers in Morocco recently as plans ramp up for the development of
an expanded purpose-built venue to accommodate the surge in global exhibitor demand.
The success of the 1st edition of GITEX Africa Morocco highlights our continent’s
enthusiastic embrace of the digital revolution and Morocco’s commitment to strengthen
South-South cooperation in the digital field, as well as its contribution to the international
promotion of the African continent in accordance with the High Royal Vision of His Majesty
King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.” said H.E. Dr Mezzour.
Our ambitions are growing as we look ahead to the 2nd edition in the beautiful city of
Marrakech. We’re excited about making GITEX Africa Morocco even more remarkable and
look forward to hosting a diverse and impactful African and international tech presence.”
Mr. Mohammed Drissi Melyani, the General Director of ADD, added: “The Kingdom of
Morocco successfully hosted the first edition of GITEX Africa Morocco in 2023, which
showcased Africa as an emergent continent in the digital economy. The 2nd edition in 2024
is another opportunity to enhance and support Africa’s digital transformation progress and
boost the competitiveness of the continent’s digital ecosystems.”
World Future Health Africa debut accelerates continent’s digital health revolution
GITEX Africa is organised by KAOUN International, the overseas affiliate of Dubai World
Trade Centre (DWTC), which organises GITEX GLOBAL in the UAE, the world’s largest
and most trusted tech and start-up event. The expansion of Africa’s powerhouse tech
showcase is amplified by the debut of the co-located World Future Health Africa,
accelerating the continent’s ascending tech-fuelled digital health revolution.
World Future Health Africa is held under the auspices of the Moroccan Ministry of Digital
Transition and Public Administration Reform, the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social
Protection, and the Digital Development Agency.
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International, organiser of GITEX Africa and World
Future Health Africa, said: “This sequel of GITEX Africa this year follows the upbeat trend
of tech discovery we created last year in its inaugural edition.
The global community is experiencing the growing energy, curiosity and demand for digital
advancement from Africa which is outpacing that of matured developed continents. The
depth and breadth of tech showcase, including the much-hyped AI in society and business
at GITEX Africa shall be an eye-opening experience fostering great knowledge sharing and
collaboration opportunities between the public and private sectors, and amongst
businesses across the world.
Tech titans return intensifying cross-continental tech tussle
The 2 nd edition of GITEX Africa will welcome returning exhibitors following their hugely
successful participation at the show’s momentous debut in 2023. Multinational majors
including Epson, Honeywell, Kaspersky, and Lexar are among those back for a second
round of future-focused collaborations reviving a tech-enabled African investment race.
Neil Colquhoun, Vice President of Epson Europe and the Middle East, said: “Epson is
delighted to announce its participation for the second consecutive year at GITEX Africa
Epson’s technology offering will focus primarily on a range of sustainable, energy-
efficient solutions and products that address the pressing concerns of many industrial
sectors, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.”
UAE-headquartered Presight, the Middle East’s leading big data analytics company
powered by generative AI, and part of G42, a global leader in creating visionary AI, will also
return: “Africa has been our focus; it’s the newly emerging continent for the digital
workforce and digital transformation,” said Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight.
Presight has multiple digital transformation programmes with several African governments,and in 2024, we aim to contribute even more to the continent’s thriving tech ecosystem.
Our goal is to make a positive societal impact using our big data analytics capabilities
powered by generative AI. With GITEX Africa playing a key role, we’re excited to be part of
discussions shaping the continent’s digital transformation journey.”
Bertrand Trastour, General Manager, France and North, Central and West Africa of global
leading Cybersecurity company, Kaspersky, added: “GITEX Africa is a very important
platform for Kaspersky as it allows us to inform our customers and partners about our
growth strategy and potential.
Digitalisation is a high priority in African markets, and cybersecurity is the foundation for
this successful transformation. Kaspersky provides the most comprehensive cybersecurity
for the growth of our customers’ businesses, regardless of their sector, scenario or assets.”
Moroccan trailblazers spotlight ground-breaking innovations
Moroccan headliners advancing tech and innovation across the region are also returning to
GITEX Africa 2024, including Maroc Data Centre, Zen Networks, Dataprotect, and
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the show’s official R&D partner.
UM6P transcends the traditional boundaries of R&D, embodying a powerhouse of
innovation and entrepreneurship for Africa and beyond,” said Yassine Laghzioui, CEO of
UM6P Ventures and Director of Entrepreneurship and Venturing at UM6P.
We are excited to elevate our role at GITEX Africa, not merely as a leading R&D
collaborator but as a beacon of innovation. Our partnership with GITEX Africa underscores
our dedication to driving progress in science, technology, and investment realms.
Added Laghzioui: “We aim to nurture and scale DeepTech ventures across Africa through
our targeted entrepreneurship and venturing programs, moving beyond Morocco’s borders.
GITEX Africa offers an unparalleled opportunity for UM6P to forge strategic partnerships,
showcasing our ground-breaking initiatives in diverse sectors such as HealthTech, BioTech,
AgriTech, and GreenTech.
These efforts stem from UM6P’s innovation labs and from our
extended ecosystem, poised to tackle the continent’s pressing challenges.”
Regional start-up, VC investment surge on high revs at North Star Africa
GITEX Africa 2024 will feature an elevated North Star Africa start-up showcase, converging
the largest curation of award-winning start-ups and scale-ups ever seen in the African
continent. The most ambitious and forward-thinking entrepreneurs and founders will
collaborate with African and global accelerators and investors to scale business opportunity
in a region that is tipped to raise US$10 billion in VC funds by 2025.
North Star Africa is extending its far-reaching footprint to all ends of the world’s second
largest continent and beyond, spurring investors to seek out and uplift the next potential
unicorns solving Africa’s biggest challenges.
There’ll be more awards too, with globe-trotting innovative companies battling for start-up
supremacy at the Supernova Challenge, Africa’s most coveted and valuable start-up pitch
competition, with a prize pool of US$100,000 up for grabs across six categories.
More information is available at www.gitexafrica.com.
