INTERNATIONAL POWERHOUSE BRANDS TURN TO INAUGURAL GITEX AFRICA 2023

Global tech pioneers and innovators are preparing to supercharge double-digit business growth across Africa, as they eagerly anticipate the debut of the continent’s largest and most inclusive tech and start-up event in Marrakech, Morocco. GITEX Africa will open doors for the first time on 31 May-2 June 2023, welcoming 500 exhibitors and 400 start-ups from 95 countries, with regional and international companies exuberant about the potential of the world’s rising tech continent, and the opportunities amplified by Africa’s ongoing Digital Transformation Strategy.

African Leaders Defy Lacklustre Global Economy to Forge Ahead with Digital Transformation Collab

African ministers, government and private sector leaders are set to converge in a powerful cross-continental forum in Marrakech this month to press on with digital transformation alliances as the tech world reorganises itself in the wake of the global digital upheaval.

Against the biggest market correction in recent years, Africa continues to march onwards to empower and unify a continent on the cusp of transformative ICT growth, with the GITEX Africa Digital Summit the new focal point steering a pursuit of a unified digital vision.

The influential summit will spearhead an inspiring conference programme at the inaugural GITEX Africa 2023 – the largest tech and start-up show in the African continent, taking place from 31 May-2 June – unifying 500-plus policy makers, 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.

H.E. Lacina Koné, the Director General and CEO of Smart Africa – the pan-African organisation driving the continent’s digital transformation agenda – is a headline speaker. Koné said 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. However, challenges remain.

“The lack of connectivity in remote and rural regions along with insufficient data protection and high cost of African connectivity have brought new challenges to businesses, governments, and people,” said Koné, who oversees the process of defining Africa’s digital agenda in addition to advancing key continental initiatives. “Intra-governmental cooperation is the key enabler of digital services adoption and acceleration, while mitigating these associated challenges across the African continent.”

Koné will be part of a panel at the GITEX Africa Digital Summit titled: ‘Uniting Towards One African Market’. He will share how Africa’s leaders are building a secure, resilient and sustainable digital future. “Agile enabling regulations are needed to quickly respond to market developments, facilitating entry of new competitors for the benefit of consumers in a united African continent,” he said.

The GITEX Africa Digital Summit will arrive amid a remarkable period of African ICT and broadband growth, with statistics showing the continent has the world’s fastest-growing internet population, up by 20 percent in just one year. Africa’s digital economy has become one of the main drivers of cross-continental progress, coupled with strong talent development and a spike in public private sector investments.

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 Africa’s most impactful leadership conference programme include H.E. Syed Amin Ul Haque, Minister of Information Technology and Communications in Pakistan; and Babajide Sanwo-Olu the Governor of Lagos Nigeria, who will deliver a keynote address on what is accelerating Africa to become the next Silicon Valley.

The state of play in Africa’s digital economy will be another key discussion point, addressed by H.E. Belete Molla, the Minister of Innovation and Technology in Ethiopia; and H.E. Cina Lawson Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation in Togo.

“I am honoured to be part of the GITEX Africa hosted by Morocco,” said H.E. Molla. “It creates opportunities to 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.”

The next wave of digital transformation accelerated by the power of generative AI along with AI’s impact on African societies will meanwhile stimulate curious discussions at a dedicated AI track on day three of GITEX Africa, where the brightest minds and most innovative thinkers share their insights on AI’s ability to revolutionise industries, from agriculture to finance.

Dr. Adel Alsharji, Chief Operating Officer at UAE-headquartered Presight, the Middle East’s leading international big data analytics company powered by AI, will deliver the keynote address on the Societal Impact of Artificial Intelligence.

“The societal impact of AI is multifaceted and far-reaching globally, and it is already reshaping sectors, such as healthcare, finance, agriculture, education, and manufacturing and therefore the way we live,” said Dr. Alsharji.

“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.

“As AI advances, we can anticipate further innovation and positive applications. It is crucial, however, to embrace AI responsibly, ensuring ethical considerations are in place as we navigate this transformative landscape.”

Mustapha Zaouini, the Chairman of AI in Africa, will speak on a panel on Responsible Generative AI. He said while Africa has unique challenges such as disparity in internet access, the continent is steadily embracing AI.

Facia to Bring Liveness Detection System at GITEX Africa 2023

Facia has announced that it is attending GITEX AFRICA 2023, Africa’s largest tech and start-up show. "We are excited to bring and showcase our advanced facial recognition to everyone at GITEX.

Facia is looking forward to bring this incredible opportunity to the continent's largest all-inclusive tech event. GITEX will bring together tech titans, SMEs, governments, coders, start-ups, academia, and investors, to accelerate, collaborate, and explore new ventures," the company said.

The three-day annual pan-African forum will take place on May 31, and will feature a curation of emerging technologies from AI, e-commerce, cloud, IoT, fintech, telecom and cybersecurity.

It will highlight Africa's potential as the world's youngest continent and help shape the mission for a more equitable, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced digital economy.

"Facia's presence at GITEX AFRICA is a testament to the company's commitment to innovation and the pursuit of cutting-edge technology. As a leader in facial recognition and liveness detection, Facia is excited to share its expertise and engage with other tech pioneers worldwide," the company said.

Mujadad Naeem, CEO Of Faciaa, said, "GITEX AFRICA is an amazing platform for us to demonstrate our expertise in facial recognition and liveness detection. We look forward to engaging with other industry players, exploring new partnerships, and exchanging ideas."

"Facia's facial recognition technology can detect and verify a person's liveness, making it a powerful tool for various applications, from security to identity verification. The company's participation in GITEX AFRICA reflects its commitment to driving innovation and advancing the tech industry in Africa and beyond," the company said. "GITEX AFRICA will amplify the continent's digital aspirations and achievements, powered by tech-savvy youth, corporates, and governments. Facia is excited to participate in this movement and contribute to shaping Africa's tech-driven future."

Lexar to Showcase its Memory Solutions at GITEX Africa 2023

Lexar will be showcasing its next-generation product portfolio at GITEX Africa 2023, one of the most important events in the African technology industry. The event will be held from May 31st to June 2nd, 2023 in Marrakech, and Lexar will be exhibiting at their stand on Central Aisle, Booth 4C-35

“Lexar has been a trusted leading global brand of memory solutions for more than 25 years. Our participation at GITEX Africa 2023, is a part of our long-term strategic vision, to meet the growing demand for technology across the continent. The company is actively present in Morocco, as the country is certainly playing a crucial role to assist and support Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy,” said Fissal Oubida, General Manager – Middle East, Africa, CIS, and Indian subcontinent, Lexar.

GITEX Africa 2023 is a perfect opportunity for Lexar to showcase its award-winning portfolio designed to specifically meet the unique needs of African consumers that are focused on quality, performance, and reliability. Lexar’s state-of-the-art photography, videography, and gaming portfolio of memory and storage solutions, which includes, SDXC, SDHC, microSD, CFExpress cards, card readers, DRAMs, internal SSDs, portable SSDs, and USB flash drives.

“We foresee many opportunities for Lexar, as there is an increasingly rapid technology adoption and growing demand by the urban African population. We are looking forward to developing strategic engagements, building connections, and meeting with key stakeholders from the African tech ecosystem,” concluded Oubida.

Nucleon Security to Showcase its Latest Innovations at GITEX Africa 2023

Nucleon Security has announced its participation in GITEX Africa 2023, one of the most important events in the African technology industry. The event will be held from May 29th to June 2nd, 2023 in Marrakech, and Nucleon Security will be present as an exhibitor at Hall 7 booth 7A-6 to present its latest cybersecurity solutions.

GITEX Africa 2023 is a premier event for information and communication technology companies to establish strategic partnerships, explore new business opportunities and discuss market trends in Africa. With attendees from across Africa and around the world, the event will provide unprecedented networking and collaboration opportunities for Nucleon Security.

A few months after its entry into the Afri- can market, Nucleon Security confirms its position as a major cybersecurity player in Africa with its participation in this event. During GITEX Africa 2023, the Nucleon Security team will be present to discuss the latest trends in cybersecurity, present the most innovative solutions and interact with participants to understand the unique needs of each company.

“We are excited to participate in GITEX Africa 2023 and meet with IT and communications industry professionals from across Africa and the world,” said Anas Chanaa, CEO at Nucleon Security. “We look forward to showcasing our industry-leading cybersecurity solutions, hearing feedback from attendees, and discussing best practices in IT asset security."

Shure to Showcase Audio Solutions for Hybrid Work at Inaugural GITEX Africa 2023

GITEX Global, the world’s largest and most inclusive tech event will debut GITEX AFRICA in Marrakesh, Morocco from 31 May through 2 June 2023. Shure will be present at the continent’s largest tech event show and will demonstrate its latest audio solutions for the AV conferencing and professional audio industry. Shure’s presence at GITEX AFRICA 2023 reinforces the importance of high-quality audio technology for IT managers and AV decision-makers while strengthening connections with key customers, partners, and industry friends.

“A long-time participant of GITEX Global, Shure has been providing audio solutions for companies throughout Africa for decades. In 2019, the UM6P in Morocco turned to Shure to outfit their modular classrooms with Microflex Advanced Ceiling Array Microphones to provide pristine audio capture for remote learners and teachers, all before remote and hybrid environments were a daily occurrence. The high-quality audio solution enabled teachers to wander around the classroom and be as free as possible while still capturing students’ questions without picking up any ambient noise. The seamless integration of the ceiling array microphones led to an interactive learning experience for everyone involved,” the company said.

“We offer smart meeting room solutions for different scales of classrooms and meeting space,” said Yassine Mannai, Senior Sales Manager, Middle East and Africa at Shure. “We understand the need for high-quality audio products in any environment, including professional audio applications, and are excited to showcase a range of smart solutions at GITEX AFRICA.”

For decades, expert engineers and sound techs have relied on Shure Wireless Systems for live broadcasts and in challenging RF environments. Most recently, teams relied on Axient Digital Wireless Systems for Super Bowl LVII and the GRAMMY Awards to deliver pristine audio for everyone tuning in to watch the live events. Axient Digital was developed with input from top audio professionals, with every feature being stress-tested and every detail fine-tuned. Designed to maximize stability, quality, control, and scalability, Axient Digital is engineered for the moments that command the highest degree of attention.

Shure will showcase the following innovations, conferencing solutions, and partnerships at the trade show:

1. Microflex Ecosystem — Offers the complete portfolio of networked and superior audio solutions, from DSP to loudspeakers, that can be perfectly tailored to meet the needs of any AV infrastructure. For corporations, governments, universities, or larger organizations, Microflex Ecosystem provides a best-in-class experience, ensuring meetings and conferences work as effectively as possible within any space.

2. Microflex Advance MXA920 Ceiling Array Microphone – The latest addition to the Microflex ecosystem and new flagship product, MXA920 ensures easy deployment and unmatched voice capture. It seamlessly integrates with other conferencing platforms and passed the Frost & Sullivan Analyst Gauntlet.

3. Stem Ecosystem — The enhanced ecosystem, reconfigured with several recent firmware updates, is ideal for situations that require straightforward, deployable audio solutions for daily conferencing needs. Small businesses and smaller meeting rooms within the context of a larger AV project can enjoy a consistent and effective audio experience with Stem Ecosystem devices.

4. Axient Digital Wireless System – Incorporates the most innovative wireless technology to date while providing improved high-performance RF, exceptional audio quality, control, and hardware scalability. Catering to the evolving needs of the television, broadcast, and film industries, Axient Digital provides two lines of transmitters, AD series and ADX series, along with additional accessories and software to give users more control and provide real-time monitoring of network control and products without interrupting the live event.

5. AD600 – The latest addition to Axient Digital, offers real-time, wide-band spectrum scanning and monitoring from 174 MHz to 2.0 GHz, spectrum analysis, and frequency coordination in a single rack unit. Six antenna connections deliver multiple coverage options while Dante connectivity provides advanced audio monitoring of any network.

6. IntelliMix Room integrated into Crestron XiO — IntelliMix Room software now supports remote monitoring and management within the Crestron XiO Cloud® platform, enabling insight into IntelliMix Room and any connected MXA products on the same network, delivering a seamless AV conferencing experience.

7. Microsoft Teams Compatibility –With a portfolio that now includes the complete audio signal chain from microphone to DSP to loudspeaker, Shure provides certified audio solutions for Microsoft Teams Rooms environments of all sizes.

8. Flexible solutions with Barco – Connected with USB, the Shure Audio Ecosystem, and Barco ClickShare Conference give users a range of scalable and flexible audio options that adapt to any environment.

9. From the desk to the meeting room with Zoom — Shure now delivers a complete audio ecosystem certified for Zoom. Seamlessly connect microphones, DSPs, and loudspeakers including MXA920 and MV7 to Zoom’s technology platform to upgrade the participant’s audio experience.