Algiers: The President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, affirmed on Saturday in Algiers that the African Startup Conference reflects Algeria’s pledge to foster continental cooperation based on sustainability and effectiveness. He noted that the annual event has become a key incubator for African startup institutions at the continental level.
According to Algeria Press Service, in a message addressed to the participants in the 4th African Startup Conference (December 6 to 8) at Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center, read on his behalf by the Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb, during the opening ceremony, the President of the Republic highlighted the importance of this continental meeting which is “the largest platform bringing together innovative youth” and constitutes “a renewed opportunity for exchanging expertise and promoting entrepreneurship in Africa.”
The conference slogan “Pride in Africa’s Entrepreneurs” is “a clear message expressing the potential of our youth who transform challenges into opportunities and ambitions into an economic reality based on knowledge and innovation.”
The President of the Republic said that “Algeria, as it hosts this event which mirrors its commitment to strengthening continental cooperation on the foundations of sustainability and effectiveness, is convinced that Africa is rich with human resources capable of leading economic transformation and empowering pioneering initiatives.”
Holding this conference just three months after Algeria’s organization of the Intra-African Trade Fair highlights “our deep commitment to serving Africa and reflects our will for Algeria to be a leading destination for innovation and economic integration in our continent,” added the President of the Republic, who noted that Algeria “has worked during recent years to build an integrated legal and regulatory system to support startups.”
The President of the Republic underscored that this system “enabled surpassing 13,000 startups by year’s end, through a flexible digital legal framework, an incentive tax system that lightens burdens and strengthens growth, as well as an open framework for innovation that connects startups with universities, research centers and economic institutions, in addition to major investments in technological and research infrastructure.”
He also recalled his personal commitment to reach “20 thousand startups by the end of 2029,” however “our ambition extends beyond our national borders,” underscoring that the decision to create a continental fund to finance African startups represents “a strategic step toward empowering Africa’s youth and an explicit call for all brotherly countries to adopt the best policies that enhance innovation and provide a harmonious regulatory environment supporting competitiveness.”
He highlighted in this respect “the importance of enabling our startups to expand continentally and build a unified African technology market, which allows attracting larger investments and produces African pioneers capable of competing regionally and internationally.”
The President of the Republic noted that this continental meeting, in which Algeria hosts entrepreneurs from various parts of the continent in the largest space gathering innovative youth, “constitutes a renewed opportunity to exchange expertise and advance the entrepreneurship sector in ambitious Africa, the Africa of the future.” The President of the Republic praised “the record participation in this edition” which reflects the importance of the conference at both the continental and international levels, as it witnesses the attendance of over 25,000 participants and more than 40 ministerial delegations, as well as 200 and 150 investors and innovators.”
“These figures are proof that this event has become a true incubator for start-ups and that our vision of building an innovative Africa is widely shared by our partners across the continent and beyond,” the President of the Republic further noted.
After extending a warm welcome to the guest of honor, the Republic of Rwanda, the President of the Republic stressed that it has become “a continental model in digital transformation and innovation, thanks to its forward-looking strategic vision and strong political will.”
President Tebboune also emphasized that previous sessions had demonstrated the importance of this conference. This was evident either through the African Union’s adoption of the Algiers Declaration’s outcomes or through joint programs aimed at supporting entrepreneurial talent and reducing brain drain.
He added that the previous session was “a milestone for the adoption of a roadmap for the implementation of the African Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which laid the foundations for digital transformation and the development of advanced technologies on the continent.”