Africa’s ambitions to digitise governance and accelerate inclusive innovation will take center stage this August as Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), an agency of the African Union headlines the Tech & AI International Expo 2025 in Zanzibar.
But she’s not just coming with a keynote—she’s coming with a platform. A Continental e-Governance Platform, to be precise.
The African Union-backed body will officially launch its digital governance solution at the Expo, a bold move designed to catalyze public sector reform, enhance transparency, and boost intergovernmental collaboration across more than 25 African nations.
The platform is expected to become a cornerstone of Africa’s digital statecraft, enabling governments to automate, monitor, and share governance practices in real time.
Africa’s digital future depends not just on building new technologies, but on transforming how governments work for their people. The e-Governance Platform is our commitment to that transformation.
Why it matters
The APRM’s announcement signals a growing recognition that technology policy, digital infrastructure, and statecraft must evolve together—especially as artificial intelligence, fintech, and decentralized platforms reshape the continent’s economic and civic landscape.
Zanzibar, rapidly emerging as a tech diplomacy hub, will host up to 1,000 leaders from 30+ countries, including African ministers, multilateral institutions, investors, startup founders, and global tech executives.
Key leaders from Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa are already confirmed.
The Expo will also feature the launch of a $50 million Africa Business Venture Fund focused on scaling startups in AI, fintech, green energy, and smart infrastructure—a deliberate attempt to fuse governance innovation with venture capital to create lasting, systemic change.
From governance to innovation: Africa’s defining tech moment
“This is not just a tech expo—it’s Africa designing its future,” said Stephene Chikozho, CEO of Africa Business Inc., the pan-African ecosystem builder behind the event. “Having the APRM lead such a powerful conversation about governance in a digital age sends a clear message: Africa is ready to lead globally—on our terms.”
Among the bold questions on the agenda:
➤ Why doesn’t Africa have more billion-dollar startups?
➤ Can regulation keep pace with AI and decentralization?
➤ What does a digitally sovereign Africa look like?
The $3 trillion opportunity: Unlocking continental potential
The Expo will confront Africa’s most pressing economic question: harnessing the $3 trillion opportunity presented by the AfCFTA.
In a pivotal session moderated by Fahmida Miller, International Correspondent with Al Jazeera, Hon. Professor Paul Vurayayi Mavima (Zimbabwe’s Minister of Skills Audit and Development) will dissect the critical link between skills development and market access, arguing that “human capital transformation is the bedrock of continental trade.”
Mr. Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga (Zanzibar’s Minister of Tourism and Heritage) will spotlight tourism’s untapped potential within this framework, emphasizing that “seamless digital integration for visas, payments, and cultural experiences isn’t just convenience – it’s a multi-billion dollar growth catalyst.”
This session promises actionable strategies to convert the AfCFTA’s promise into tangible prosperity, moving beyond rhetoric to practical pathways for inclusive growth.
Creating an ecosystem for the next African unicorn
Moving beyond buzzwords, the Expo dedicates deep focus to architecting ecosystems where billion-dollar startups can thrive. Mr. Matteo Rizzi (Founder, Timepledge.org & African Talent Academy) brings his global fintech and talent development expertise to the forefront, emphasizing that “Unicorns aren’t born in isolation; they emerge from interconnected networks of talent, patient capital, and regulatory foresight.”
Discussions will tackle systemic barriers – from fragmented markets to talent pipelines – and showcase innovative models like Zanzibar’s Silicon Valley vision, positioning the continent to systematically nurture homegrown tech giants rather than relying on sporadic success stories. This ecosystem approach is fundamental to converting Africa’s vast potential into scalable, globally competitive enterprises.
Capacity building at scale: Fueling the digital revolution’s engine
Recognizing that technology is only as powerful as the people wielding it, the Expo places massive emphasis on skilling millions for the digital age.
Mr. Matteo Rizzi Founder, Timepledge.org & African Talent Academy
Mr. Matteo Rizzi returns with a dedicated keynote on this critical theme, championing initiatives like Timepledge.org that aim to democratize access to future-proof skills.
Hon. Professor Paul Vurayayi Mavima (Zimbabwe’s Minister of Skills Audit and Development)
His message will resonate with Hon. Prof. Mavima’s work in Zimbabwe, highlighting the urgent need for national skills audits and large-scale, industry-aligned training programs.
The dialogue will pivot from small-scale pilots to continent-wide strategies, focusing on reskilling workforces, empowering youth with AI literacy, and building the public sector digital competence required to effectively deploy and govern transformative technologies like the APRM’s e-Governance Platform.
Fintech, VC funding, & the tech/ AI renaissance in tourism and creatives
The convergence of finance, technology, and creative industries takes center stage. Katie King (Global AI Strategist & Author) will deliver a visionary keynote on how AI is revolutionizing tourism and the creative economy, stating, “AI isn’t replacing the human touch in hospitality and art; it’s amplifying reach, personalizing experiences, and unlocking unprecedented creative expression and revenue streams.”
This complements the fintech and venture capital session exploring catalytic capital for innovation.
Mr. Ken Sharpe (CEO, WestProp Zimbabwe)
On the same day, Mr. Ken Sharpe (CEO, WestProp Zimbabwe) will demonstrate how smart infrastructure investments, like integrated tech hubs within developments, are creating the physical-digital nexus essential for these industries to flourish, a vision actively being realized locally by innovators like Sanjay Raja, CEO of ZanLink (Zanzibar), who is pioneering digital solutions to connect Zanzibar’s businesses and communities.
Sanjay Raja, CEO of ZanLink (Zanzibar)
Themes to watch at tech & AI Expo 2025:
- AI-Powered Governance – Tech-enabled transparency and efficiency in the public sector
- Smart Infrastructure – Building cities and systems for inclusive prosperity
- Policy Innovation – Enabling regional harmonization through digital platforms
- Public-Private Partnerships – Aligning startups, governments, and capital
- Regulatory Readiness – Responding to Web3, AI, and borderless innovation
Ready to join the movement?
📅 22–23 August 2025
📍 Golden Tulip Airport Hotel & Spa, Zanzibar
🌐 www.techaiexpo.com
About APRM:
The African Peer Review Mechanism is an African Union governance platform promoting political stability, democratic values, and sustainable development through country-led evaluations and peer learning.
About Africa Business Inc.:
Africa Business Inc. is a pan-African ecosystem builder accelerating investment, entrepreneurship, and policy innovation to shape a future-ready continent.
