From April 14–16, Marrakech hosted the third edition of GITEX Africa, cementing its position as the continent’s top tech event. The gathering drew over 45,000 participants from 130 countries, 1,450 exhibitors, and 350+ investors managing $200 billion, making it a hub for innovation, investment, and collaboration.
The African Startup Pavilion was the event’s highlight, showcasing talent from Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, DRC, and Tunisia. The Supernova Challenge awarded funding and visibility to standout startups, while investors from across Africa and the globe scouted future industry leaders.
Strategic announcements included Visa’s investment in African fintechs Konnect and Paytic, Proparco’s new startup partnerships, and Morocco’s TAMWILCOM teaming with Flat6Labs to boost early-stage innovation. Pan-African funds like Future Africa and Tunisia’s Anava (which pledged €3.5 million to AI, biotech, and greentech) underscored growing local capital engagement.
Geopolitical weight was evident, with ministerial delegations from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and France in attendance. “GITEX Africa is now a driver of the continent’s digital transformation,” said Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of Kaoun International.
While Africa still faces connectivity gaps — with 63% offline in 2023 — momentum is strong. Over 600 tech hubs now operate across the continent, and countries like Rwanda and Senegal are pushing toward a single African digital market by 2030.
The event spotlighted generative AI, sovereign cybersecurity, African cloud, and green tech, with panels tackling agriculture, disinformation, and women in tech. The message was clear: Africa no longer wants to be a spectator, it’s ready to shape and export its own digital vision.
Next stop: VivaTech 2025 in Paris, where Africa will again showcase why it’s key to the world’s digital future.
