GITEX Africa Morocco to host 1,450 exhibitors and startups as Marrakech event sharpens focus on AI and digital sovereignty

Africa’s largest tech and startup event returns from April 7 to 9 as Morocco positions itself at the centre of the continent’s push for AI-led growth, investment and cross-border digital cooperation

GITEX Africa Morocco will return to Marrakech next week with more than 1,450 exhibiting companies and startups, as Morocco seeks to strengthen its position as a technology hub for the continent and place artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation.

The fourth edition of the event will run from April 7 to 9 and is set to bring together participants from more than 130 countries.

Organisers said the 2026 edition would have a broader international presence, with Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Guinea, Hungary, Luxembourg, Thailand and Zambia among the new participating countries.

Held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI and under the authority of Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, the event is hosted by the Digital Development Agency and organised by KAOUN International.

This year’s edition is being framed as a more implementation-focused gathering, with organisers positioning it as a platform for turning discussion about Africa’s digital future into investment, partnerships and high-impact digital solutions, while advancing a more competitive, inclusive and sustainable digital economy through pan-African collaboration.

The event comes amid growing expectations for artificial intelligence across the continent. 

Organisers said AI could contribute $1.2 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030 and said the Marrakech gathering would focus on how to unlock shared innovation potential, deepen pan-African integration, strengthen Africa’s digital sovereignty and support broader economic resilience.

Speaking at a preview press conference in Rabat on April 1, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Morocco’s Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, said: “In the context of accelerating digital transformations worldwide, artificial intelligence represents a structuring opportunity for Africa, driven by a young human capital, rapidly expanding innovation ecosystems, and increasing investments in digital infrastructure.

“The Kingdom of Morocco’s ambition, in line with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, is to make AI a pillar of digital sovereignty, economic competitiveness, and territorial inclusion, through the development of talent, the strengthening of technological capacities, and the promotion of an innovative and responsible ecosystem.”

Amine El Mezouaghi, Director General of the Digital Development Agency, added: “GITEX AFRICA Morocco embodies the Kingdom’s ambition to position Morocco as a strategic technology hub serving the African continent.

“Driven by the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God Assist Him, and supported by a dynamic ecosystem of startups and innovative SMEs, as well as strong partnerships between public and private stakeholders, this event reinforces Morocco’s role as a platform where talent, investment and innovation converge.

“It serves as a key lever to foster the emergence of African digital champions and to support the continent’s sustainable integration into the global digital economy.”

A central part of the event will again be North Star Africa, described by organisers as the continent’s largest startup showcase.

More than 800 local and international startups are expected to take part, supported by scale-up programmes, talent academies, diaspora initiatives and hands-on training workshops aimed at helping founders pitch, grow and secure funding.

Organisers said more than 400 global investors from over 40 countries, collectively overseeing $350 billion in assets under management, are attending in search of high-growth, investment-ready ventures capable of scaling across Africa and beyond.

Morocco is also expanding its domestic push through the “Morocco 300” initiative, which will increase participation by local companies by 50 per cent compared with last year’s “Morocco 200”, according to organisers.

The programme, delivered in partnership with the Digital Development Agency and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, is intended to give Moroccan firms greater exposure to investors, technology executives and corporate buyers.

The 2026 event will also widen its sector focus. New and expanded showcases will include Data Centre Intelligent Infrastructure, Fintech and the Future of Finance, Future Mobility Park and Sports Tech.

The fintech programme will spotlight mobile money, AI-driven financial inclusion and cross-border payments, while Future Mobility Park will cover electric, autonomous and connected transport systems. Sports Tech will showcase smart venues, athlete performance technologies and next-generation fan engagement.

Cybersecurity will also take a more prominent place on the main stage, with a dedicated programme delivered in partnership with Morocco’s General Directorate for Information Systems Security. 

The Strategic Digital Defence AI Readiness (STAR) Summit will examine how African businesses, industries and emerging digital economies can protect critical infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated AI-driven threats and equip them with the frameworks needed to respond.

Organisers said the event would continue to serve as a platform for international digital cooperation, helping cultivate new alliances, explore increasingly tech-critical sectors and build deeper links across the continent’s technology landscape.

Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of GITEX Africa Morocco, pictured above, said: “In Just four years, GITEX AFRICA has evolved from a bold launch into a powerful engine of momentum for Morocco, attracting new global companies, investors, and cross-border partnerships that are reshaping the country’s innovation landscape.

“What we are witnessing is not just event growth, but Morocco’s accelerated rise in global relevance, strengthening its competitive position, deepening its digital economy, and firmly placing it on the map as a leading innovation hub for Africa and beyond.”

READ MORE: ‘Nigeria’s startup scene takes global stage as Lagos hosts inaugural GITEX NIGERIA‘. West Africa’s biggest technology and startup showcase brought more than 650 companies to Lagos, where ministers and business leaders described Nigerian entrepreneurs as “architects of the digital future”. 

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_{Main image: From left: Amine El Mezouaghi, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni and Trixie LohMirmand ahead of GITEX Africa Morocco 2026, which will take place in Marrakech from April 7 to 9. Credit: GITEX Africa Morocco}