Morocco is positioning the 2026 edition of as a platform to strengthen its role as a regional technology and investment hub, as African governments and startups seek a larger foothold in the rapidly expanding global AI and digital economy.
The fourth edition of the technology and startup event will take place in Marrakech from April 7 to 9, bringing together more than 1,450 exhibiting companies and startups alongside participants from over 130 countries, according to organizers. New participating countries this year include Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Guinea, Hungary, Luxembourg, Thailand and Zambia.
Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI and overseen by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, the event is hosted by the Digital Development Agency and organized by KAOUN International.
Amine El Mezouaghi, director general of the Digital Development Agency, said the event reflected Morocco’s ambition to become “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,” El Mezouaghi said.
“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,” he added.
Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, said artificial intelligence represented “a structuring opportunity for Africa” driven by expanding innovation ecosystems, growing digital infrastructure investment and the continent’s young population.
“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,” Seghrouchni said.
Organizers said this year’s edition aims to move beyond discussions around digital transformation toward implementation of AI, fintech and digital infrastructure projects, framing the event as a platform where “global innovation meets African sovereignty.”
The event comes as organizers estimate artificial intelligence could contribute $1.2 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, intensifying competition among governments to attract infrastructure, data and startup investment.
GITEX Africa will also host “North Star Africa,” described as the continent’s largest startup showcase, with more than 800 startups expected to participate. More than 400 investors from over 40 countries managing a combined $350 billion in assets are set to attend.
Morocco is simultaneously expanding its “Morocco 300” initiative, increasing participation by 50% from the previous “Morocco 200” format to expose local startups and SMEs to international investors and technology buyers.
New sector showcases planned for this year include AI infrastructure and data centers, fintech, future mobility systems, sports technology and cybersecurity, including a dedicated cybersecurity program organized with Morocco’s General Directorate for Information Systems Security focused on AI driven threats targeting critical infrastructure.
Every country now wants to be a “regional tech hub.” The phrase has become the diplomatic equivalent of putting “artisanal” on supermarket bread. Still, Morocco is one of the few actually building recurring continental scale platforms around that ambition instead of just printing strategy PDFs nobody reads after
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