This month, African ministers and private sector leaders will gather in Marrakech, Morocco for a cross-continental forum.
According to the organisers, Kaoun International, the purpose of the forum is to promote digital transformation alliances in a world that is reorganising itself after the global digital upheaval.
It stated in a statement that the meeting would be an important opportunity to strengthen relationships between Africa and the tech industry.
The organisers of the GITEX Africa Digital Summit stated that Africa continued to march onward to empower and unify a continent on the cusp of transformative ICT growth.
It noted that the summit was the new focal point steering a pursuit of a unified digital vision.
According to the release, the inaugural GITEX Africa 2023, which will hold from May 31-June 2, will unify 500-plus policymakers, government heads, investors and academics to explore how technology and connectivity are redrawing the boundaries of sustainable social-economic development for African government, business and society.
The Director General and CEO of Smart Africa, the pan-African organisation driving the continent’s digital transformation agenda, Lacina Koné, is a headline speaker.
According to Koné, digital technologies offer new avenues for economic growth in Africa by accelerating job creation and talent development, supporting access to public services and increasing productivity and innovation.
“The lack of connectivity in remote and rural regions along with insufficient data protection and the high cost of African connectivity has brought new challenges to businesses, governments, and people.
“Intra-governmental cooperation is the key enabler of digital services adoption and acceleration while mitigating these associated challenges across the African continent,” said Koné, who oversees the process of defining Africa’s digital agenda in addition to advancing key continental initiatives.
The statement revealed that Koné will be part of a panel at the GITEX Africa Digital Summit titled ‘Uniting Towards One African Market’.
The organisers also added that he would share how Africa’s leaders were building a secure, resilient and sustainable digital future.
“Agile enabling regulations are needed to quickly respond to market developments, facilitating the entry of new competitors for the benefit of consumers in a united African continent,” he said.
Jérôme Hénique, CEO for the Middle East & Africa at Orange, France; Tonny Bao, Vice President of Huawei, China; and Saad Toma, General Manager of IBM MENA, are among the foremost private sector leaders speaking about the critical pathways advancing the continent’s digital transformation missions, from building a more digital and inclusive Africa to exploring the social and economic impacts of 5G, or how AI can drive business transformation and sustainability.
Other headliners at the conference programme include Syed Amin Ul Haque, Minister of Information Technology and Communications in Pakistan; and the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who will deliver a keynote address on what is accelerating Africa to become the next Silicon Valley.
The statement also disclosed that the state of play in Africa’s digital economy would be another key discussion point, which would be addressed by the Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology, Belete Molla and Togolese Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, Cina Lawson.
“I am honoured to be part of the GITEX Africa hosted by Morocco. It creates opportunities for governments, innovators and leading experts from around the world to discover new ideas, build new partnerships, and connect with inspiring mentors and investors. It would help Ethiopia to get connected to the global tech space and leading players,” said Molla.
The Chief Operating Officer of Presight, the Middle East’s leading international big data analytics company powered by AI, Dr Adel Alsharji, will deliver the keynote address on the societal impact of Artificial Intelligence.
“The African continent is showing a speedy AI adoption rate and a readiness to explore and harness the potential of AI for driving economic growth and addressing local challenges, ultimately benefiting the greater good of people,” he remarked.
Also, the Chairman of AI in Africa, Mustapha Zaouini, will speak on a panel on responsible generative AI.
He said, “Africa is exploring AI to solve pressing issues like poverty, unemployment, and inequality.”
According to him, readiness varies across countries, and there is a need to invest in infrastructure, education, and policy-making to fully harness this fast-evolving technology.
“Access to AI technologies can level the playing field. So, it is essential not to be left aside. Ensuring equitable access to technology and bridging the digital divide are crucial steps to prepare for AI’s impact in Africa,” he averred.
The statement added that more than 250 hosted investors from 34 countries with $200bn worth of assets under management will also seek breakthrough technologies and potential African tech scale-up co-investment opportunities.
“As the ultimate start-up incubator and a magnet for flourishing VC funds, GITEX Africa will deliver a scouting platform for these investors, of which 70 per cent are coming from outside of Africa,” it further stated.
