GITEX AFRICA Morocco: Catalysing Africa’s digital economy

Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, the fourth edition of GITEX AFRICA Morocco will run from 7-9 April 2026 in Marrakech. Organised by KAOUN International in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform and the Digital Development Agency (ADD), the event — billed as the largest technology and startup gathering on the continent — is themed “Catalysing Africa’s Digital Economy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” It will bring together public decision-makers, industry leaders, startups, investors, researchers and other technology stakeholders to discuss responsible AI infrastructure, digital public policy frameworks and the scaling of solutions tailored to Africa’s priorities.

“As we look toward GITEX AFRICA 2026, our mission is to move beyond conversation and into the era of active implementation,” said Trixie LohMirmand, CEO, GITEX AFRICA Morocco. “By anchoring this edition in responsible Artificial Intelligence, we provide the definitive platform where global innovation meets African sovereignty. This event is not just a showcase; it is a high-octane engine for cross-border collaboration, designed to scale high-impact digital solutions that will define the continent’s economic resilience for decades to come.”

The Marrakech edition places AI at the centre of a strategic vision to support “a competitive, inclusive, sovereign and sustainable African digital economy,” organisers said. The programme aligns closely with the Digital for Sustainable Development Hub (D4SD), an initiative launched by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). D4SD aims to foster Arab‑African digital cooperation through expertise exchange, skills development and deployment of AI solutions that reflect national development needs.

Her Excellency Mrs. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, commented on the hub’s role: “through D4SD, we are building an Arab-African digital cooperation platform based on the sharing of expertise, the development of skills and the deployment of Artificial Intelligence solutions aligned with our countries’ development priorities.” She added that digital transformation should be “a structural driver of co-development in Africa, while ensuring that technological innovation delivers tangible contributions to sustainable development and enhances citizens’ quality of life.”

Amine El Mezouaghi, Director General of the Digital Development Agency, framed AI as a strategic lever for the continent: “a decisive lever for Africa’s digital development, provided that effective convergence is ensured between public policy, infrastructure and investment. GITEX AFRICA Morocco positions itself as a strategic framework for co-construction, capable of bringing together African and international ecosystems around practical solutions tailored to the realities of the continent, while accelerating high-impact digital projects and sustainably strengthening local capabilities.”

Event priorities and participants

• Dates and place: 7–9 April 2026, Marrakech, Morocco.
• Organisers and partners: KAOUN International; Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform; Digital Development Agency (ADD).
• Core themes: Responsible AI infrastructure, digital public policy, scaling high-impact African solutions, skills development and cross-border collaboration.
• Target audience: Public policymakers, international and African tech ecosystems, startups, investors, researchers and development partners, including UNDP through D4SD.

With its fourth edition set to convene stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, GITEX AFRICA Morocco is positioning itself as a convening platform for translating AI policy and innovation into deployed projects and strengthened local capabilities. The Marrakech forum will be watched closely by governments, investors and founders seeking concrete pathways to scale digital solutions adapted to the continent’s economic and social priorities.