FEATURE : OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
Africa : A powerhouse of innovation and change
As the world moves toward greater sustainability and lower emissions it is important to understand local and regional needs . Natalya Makarochkina , Senior Vice President , Secure Power Division , International Operations at Schneider Electric , tells Intelligent CIO Africa about how promising movements across technology and culture are paving a bright future for this continent .
What can we learn from an expansive , dynamic and diverse continent that has a strong track record of leap-frogging its development over apparent deficits ? Several key lessons : from sustainable Digital Transformation to world leading diversity in tech leadership and effective ways to bring more women into the field through better opportunities in education . attracted much of the investment seen and there is cause for optimism in the short term .
Gartner predicts IT spending in the MENA region will total US $ 178.1 billion in 2023 , growing 3.1 % from 2022 , outpacing broader economic growth in many regions .
Silicon Savanah and tech unicorns
With a thriving tech start-up scene featuring several unicorns that is supporting regional economic growth and innovating opportunities for renewable energy , African nations are also setting a high standard globally for increased equity in the boardroom .
Growth and investment in the continent
Existing investments are already proving a focal point for further development , such as Nairobi for example , where the ‘ Silicon Savanah ’ is seeing intense activity . An international financial services centre is expected to attract start-up activity , alongside previous investment from Microsoft in a $ 100 million plan for development centres , expected to have some 500 engineers in 2023 .
There are vibrant tech ecosystems across the continent , irrespective of data infrastructure , clustered in certain locations . These existing ecosystems have
This kind of development has provided fertile ground for start-ups and scaling , as Africa ’ s tech start-ups raised a record US $ 5 billion in 2021 , according to
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