Page 5 - SAMENA Trends - Gitex Special 2023

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

“ACCELERATE AFRICA”

“Accelerate Africa” a Core Theme of MWC Kigali

Africa’s digital transformation journey is gaining momentum,
empowering communities, governments and businesses. As 4G
moves forward and 5G emerges, frontier technologies offer huge
potential and fintech continues to connect millions within the
formal economy for the first time.

This year’s Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, will bring
together prominent figures from across the mobile ecosystem
to celebrate Africa's impressive advancements in connectivity,
its growing digital use, and to engage in discussions about
the specific connectivity challenges faced by the continent.
His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of
Rwanda, will formally open MWC Kigali on 17 October at the Kigali groundbreaking new technologies such as AI, AR/VR, Web3 and
Convention Centre. the Metaverse. Under this theme, the event is expected to also
dive into how emerging technology start-ups are reshaping the
African tech startups broke records in 2022 by raising over USD 3 continent’s entrepreneurial sector. Other themes include, FinTech,
billion in funding with the digital revolution significantly changing HealthTech, and Powering Digital.
the way business is conducted creating new opportunities for
entrepreneurs, innovators, and consumers Affordable handsets and broadband, which have been key barriers
in Africa’s digitalization journey, will also come under discussion
MWC’s “Accelerate Africa” theme includes several sessions at MWC Kigali. Notably, Sub-Saharan Africa has made great
looking at the growth in connectivity across Africa, as well as strides in making mobile innovation an enabler of change. Today,
the strong appetite from companies within the region to adopt 85 percent of the region is covered by mobile networks, but the
remaining 15 percent, which accounts for about 200 million
African tech startups broke records in 2022 people, remains unconnected.
by raising over USD 3 billion in funding with
the digital revolution significantly changing SAMENA Council will be contributing insights to the MWC
leadership discussion on “Building a Connected Africa”, to be held
the way business is conducted creating on October 18th. CEO of SAMENA Council, Bocar BA, believes that

new opportunities for entrepreneurs, “Bridging Africa’s digital gaps, requires not only infrastructural
investments but also addressing device affordability, enhancing
innovators, and consumers. digital literacy, and curating relevant content.”

SAMENA Council will be contributing
insights to the MWC leadership discussion
on “Building a Connected Africa”, to be held
on October 18th. CEO of SAMENA Council,
Bocar BA, believes that “Bridging Africa’s
digital gaps, requires not only infrastructural
investments but also addressing device
affordability, enhancing digital literacy, and

curating relevant content.”

5 GITEX SPECIAL 2023