Success for Startups at GITEX Africa

JICA, together with 12 Startups (8 Ethiopian, 2 Nigerian and 2 Tunisian startups) and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia (MInT), the government of Nigeria and Tunisia, and the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD), participated in #GITEX Africa (Morocco) from 31th May to 2nd June. This is the largest comprehensive tech forum on the African continent and is part of JICA's Project # NINJA.

The 12 startups were able to pitch their ideas and meet many companies and investors from other countries. MInT, JICA, and Startups promoted the presence of Ethiopia's startup ecosystem by setting up a place for pods. Minister of MInT, H.E. Belete Molla Getahun(Ph.D) and the Ethiopian Ambassador to Morocco also met startups and shared the potential for the Ethiopian startup ecosystem.

At GITEX Africa, two of the eight selected Ethiopian startups, Buy2Go and Zmall delivery, signed an agreement to merge. Additionally, the merged company has entered into a development partnership with Ninjacart, the world's largest startup with a valuation of $1 billion. For more information, please refer to the video. (Youtube: https://youtu.be/95hxVPF_nf4 )

Other startups are also communicating with several investors and companies which they met at GITEX Africa for further business development.

For more info on JICA’s Project NINJA visit: jica.go.jp/english/index.html