Maxab and Wasoko have completed their merger, creating Africa’s largest B2B retail network with over 450,000 merchants and 4,000 employees across five countries. The combined entity, led by co-CEOs Belal El-Megharbel and Daniel Yu, aims to double its revenue by year-end while enhancing trade between North and East Africa.
At GITEX GLOBAL 2024, Tencent Cloud’s Dan Hu highlighted the company’s double-digit growth in the Middle East, strategic partnerships, and tailored services to support regional digital transformation. Key collaborations, including with local firms, emphasize Tencent’s commitment to advancing the digital economy and enhancing operational efficiency across sectors.
KPMG has extended its global ServiceNow alliance into Bahrain, enhancing digital consulting capabilities. This partnership focuses on streamlining processes in finance, supply chain, HR, and risk management, aiming to boost efficiency and foster growth for businesses in Bahrain.
Morocco has improved to 76th place in the 2024 Network Readiness Index (NRI), climbing one position from the previous year. The report highlights the role of digital public-private partnerships (DPPPs) in advancing global digital transformation and emphasizes the need for robust governance frameworks to drive sustainable progress in ICT.
Zong 4G collaborates with Knowledge Platform to launch the Digital Scholars program, aiming to revolutionize Pakistan’s educational landscape. This initiative targets about 3000 students across 60 schools, focusing on marginalized areas along the CPEC belt. By providing digital learning modules in core subjects, the partnership seeks to bridge the rural-urban education gap, empowering Pakistani youth with equal learning opportunities.
Flat6Labs has invested in 10 Saudi startups as part of the fourth Riyadh Seed Program, focusing on diverse sectors such as e-commerce, logistics, and cybersecurity. These startups benefit from a four-month acceleration initiative, cash investment, and tailored support to scale their operations, positioning them for growth in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Pakistani tech companies are expanding into Singapore and Southeast Asia, marking a strategic shift to diversify tech exports and capitalize on the region’s growing digital economy. The participation of Pakistani firms in events like Singapore Tech Week and the FinTech Festival highlights their focus on software development, fintech, and AI.
Vodafone Oman has become the first communications service provider in the GCC region to upgrade its core network on Ericsson’s latest cloud infrastructure. This seamless transition prepares the company for 5G deployment and enhances network performance while supporting Oman’s digital transformation goals in line with Vision 2040.
At the World Business Angels Investment Forum 2024, Bahraini startups showcased their innovative projects under the patronage of Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Entrepreneurs like Dr. Hamad Al Sayed and Zainab Adel Al Shuwaikh presented solutions ranging from AI-driven investment platforms to eco-friendly agricultural products, aiming to attract global investors and expand internationally.
ScreenCheck showcased its advanced cloud-based access control solutions at Intersec Saudi 2024. The company introduced AI-driven systems and biometric identification technologies aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These innovations aim to enhance security, privacy, and operational efficiency across various industries in the Middle East.
