The 3rd edition of GITEX Africa kicked off in Marrakech on Monday, in the presence of more than 45,000 participants and over 1,400 exhibitors from more than 130 countries.
The opening ceremony of this major event to run till April 16 was marked by a pre-recorded video address by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and the presence of members of the government, national and international investors, representatives of governmental institutions, and personalities from various backgrounds.
The Kingdom of Morocco is actively advocating for an ethical, inclusive, and regulated AI that respects human rights, safeguards personal data, and serves the collective good, Aziz Akhannouch said.
“In light of the rising tide of unethical practices, particularly cyberattacks, there is an urgent need to reflect collectively on how we can enhance information security and protect our systems from such threats.”
In this respect, he mentioned that at the recently held AI Action Summit, Morocco reaffirmed its firm belief that Africa cannot remain a mere testing ground, but must rather be an active, decisive, and productive player.
The Government Chief said that Morocco has chosen to bet on digitalization for years, making it a national priority through the national strategy “Digital Morocco 2030.” This strategy rests on two key pillars: the first is building a digital administration that serves both citizens and businesses; the second aims to create a thriving digital economy—one that fosters innovation, generates wealth, and creates employment.
He added that Morocco has undertaken a series of reforms, including signing agreements with global tech firms to strengthen national human capital and attract investments, launching tailored funding mechanisms for startups, enhancing service outsourcing, particularly in high-value-added sectors and establishing a regulatory framework that encourages innovation, notably facilitating startup access to public procurement.
One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the “Africa Future Connectivity” summit, an exclusive platform bringing together telecoms, cloud computing and data center giants.
The summit will explore the impact of broadband, 5G deployment and cloud technologies, while encouraging public-private partnerships to structure the continent’s digital future.
The Diaspora Studio, a space dedicated to networking African talent on a global scale, is also planned with the ambition of fostering investment opportunities, cross-border partnerships and the transfer of expertise between the diaspora and local technology ecosystems.
This year’s edition of GITEX Africa features a host of sector-specific conferences, innovative initiatives in the creative industry and high value-added networking forums.
It is also focusing on EdTech, AgriTech, HealthTech and SportsTech. An approach that reinforces the ambition to make technology a lever for socio-economic transformation in Africa.
This annual event marks a new stage in Morocco’s positioning as a key platform for digital innovation in Africa.