Tech : Zimbabwe to host Smart Africa Investment Forum on 25 April
The unique opportunity to stimulate investment in Africa's digital transformation. During the event, the 36 African countries, members of the Smart Africa Alliance, may tap into the $102.9 billion investment opportunities that this event offers for the financing of the digital economy
By the editorial staff
Ahead of the 6th Transform Africa Summit (TAS2023) to be held in the western Zimbabwean city of Victoria Falls from 26 to 28 April, the Smart Africa Investment Forum (SAIF) will take place on 25 April 2023 in the same city. The announcement was made on Wednesday 22 March 2023 by the organisers of TAS2023 on their website.
According to the organisers, « FISA is exclusively reserved for Platinum and Gold level delegates who have paid a registration fee of US$ 950 and US$ 450 respectively. This gives them access to a high level of activities during the event. The April 25, 2023 Forum offers participants high-level engagements on critical topics such as digital infrastructure financing, initiatives to reduce the cost of broadband, start-up funds and scholarship funding.
« This « pre-forum » is an opportunity for investors to connect to innovative solutions for the growth of the digital economy”
This event, in effect a « pre-forum », is « a powerful and dynamic event » that reflects the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to funding. « It is an excellent opportunity for investors and investment seekers to connect and collaborate on innovative solutions that will drive the growth of the digital economy, » says the TAS2023 press release. The focus will be on fostering partnerships, promoting investment and sustainable development in Africa.
As a reminder, it was at the end of a selection process involving the 36 members of the Smart Africa Alliance that the city of Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, was chosen to host the 6th edition of the Transform Africa Summit, the main African Tech and Digital event organised by Smart Africa, from 26 to 28 April 2023. Smart Africa is an innovative commitment by African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socio-economic development on the continent, to move Africa towards a knowledge-based economy through affordable access to broadband internet and the use of information and communication technologies.
« The 36 African countries of the Smart Africa Alliance are offered $102.9 billion to finance the digital economy”
The first edition of the Transform Africa Summit was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 28 to 31 October 2013. On this occasion, seven African heads of state (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso) adopted a Smart Africa Manifesto. This was a kind of commitment ‘to play a leading role in accelerating socio-economic development through ICT’. On 30 and 31 January 2014, this was approved by all the heads of state and government of the African Union meeting in Addis Ababa. This places this strategic document at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa, beyond the 7 original signatories of the Summit, in all 53 African countries.
Since then, the Smart Africa Alliance has grown to include 36 African countries representing approximately one billion people. To whom the alliance now offers investment opportunities worth $102.9 billion in digital infrastructure financing.
