GITEX Africa Announce Dates for its 2nd Edition, to be Held in Marrakech, Morocco

GITEX Africa, one of Africa’s largest and most influential tech and startup events 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 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 is expected to welcome thousands of attendees across Africa and the rest of the world 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 organizers in Morocco as plans ramp up for the development of an expanded purpose-built venue to accommodate the surge in global exhibitor demand.

In a press statement, Dr. Mezzour said, the success of the 1st edition highlighted Africa’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 under the High Royal Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

He further added “Our ambitions are growing as we look ahead to the 2nd edition in 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.”

Adding to Dr. Mezzour’s remarks, Mr. Mohammed Drissi Melyani, the General Director of ADD, said, “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 organized by KAOUN International, the overseas affiliate of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), which organizes GITEX GLOBAL in the United Arab Emirates. The expansion of Africa’s powerhouse tech showcase is amplified by the debut of the co-located World Future Health Africa, accelerating Africa’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 said, “This sequel of GITEX Africa this year follows the upbeat trend of tech discovery we created last year in its inaugural edition.”

LohMirmand adds that 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,” she said.

Who is expected at the GITEX Africa 2024

1. Tech titans return intensifying cross-continental tech tussle:

The 2nd edition of GITEX Africa will welcome returning exhibitors following their hugely successful participation at the show’s momentous debut last year. 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.

2. Moroccan trailblazers spotlight ground-breaking innovations:

Moroccan headliners advancing tech and innovation across the region will also return to GITEX Africa 2024, including Maroc Data Centre, Zen Networks, Dataprotect, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and the show’s official R&D partner.

Regional startup, VC investment surge on high revs at North Star Africa

GITEX Africa 2024 will feature an elevated North Star Africa startup showcase, converging the largest curation of award-winning startups and scale-ups ever seen in Africa. The most ambitious and forward-thinking entrepreneurs and startup founders will collaborate with African and global accelerators and investors to scale business opportunities in a region that is tipped to raise USD$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 startup supremacy at the Supernova Challenge, Africa’s most coveted and valuable startup pitch competition, with a prize pool of USD$100,000 (approx. UGX389,430,000) up for grabs across six categories.