As Africa prepares for the second edition of its leading technology and startup event, experts believe it is time for the continent to shape its own digital future and become the next Silicon Valley.
As the world accelerates towards a digital future, Africa is poised to take a significant leap forward in its technological journey.
The second edition of GITEX Africa, the continent’s leading technology and startup event, is scheduled to take place this year from May 29 to 31 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
This major event promises to bring together the brightest minds and innovators from around the world to chart a course for Africa’s digital transformation.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, emphasized on the GITEX website the need for collective collaboration between governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to accelerate Africa’s transformation into the next Silicon Valley.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the continent’s immense potential, with predicted consumer spending of $2.1 trillion by 2025 and an expected largest workforce in the world by 2035. He also said that technology plays a crucial role in unlocking this potential, pointing to Lagos State’s success in fostering a favorable climate for startups and technology companies.
Africa’s booming fintech sector is estimated to reach a revenue of $65 billion by 2030, with a growth rate 13 times faster than the global average over the next seven years. This provides the continent with a unique opportunity to leapfrog outdated technological development stages and adopt more advanced solutions.
In this context, the Fintech Summit at GITEX Africa will bring together experts to debate and explore the latest innovations in financial technology. On the event’s platform, Aalya Ghouli, Chief Executive at BNP Paribas, praised GITEX Africa as a unique opportunity to bring African communities together around the common goal of accelerating digitalization and positioning the continent as a major global player in technological innovation.
Khalid Elgibaly, president of the Middle East and North Africa division at Mastercard, was also quoted on the GITEX website, emphasizing the event’s role in fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders. He added that this collaboration can unlock new opportunities and drive digital transformation to address the continent’s unique challenges.
GITEX Africa 2024 promises to be a crucial moment in the continent’s digital journey, with over 900 technology companies, government agencies, startups, and participants from over 100 countries. As the largest technology and startup show in Africa, the event is set to drive the continent’s transformation into a global hub for technology and innovation.
From Nairobi’s Silicon Savannah to Cape Town’s Silicon Cape, and from Rwanda’s growing tech sector to Morocco’s digital development strides, Africa is on the rise, with technology as the wind beneath its wings.
Morocco World News
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