Nneoma Offodile, managing director, Digital Africa Global Consult (DAGC), has said that Africa will be showcasing local software at next years’ Consumer Electronics Show (CES) schedule to hold between January 7 and 10.
Offordile stated this at a media briefing on the preparedness of the Digital Africa Global Consult for the CES.
She noted that although Africa has not made much impact in the manufacturing of hardware electronics, the continent has done well in the development of software which Digital Africa tends to leverage on to showcase at its pavilion at the case.
“We have advantage in software, we can leverage on at CES to move Africa to the next level,” she said.
She cited the impact MPESA of Kenya has created in the mobile money payment system which today has become a reference point globally.
It would be recalled that Digital Africa Conference & Exhibitions (DACE) recently entered into partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association, CEA of the United States of America to mobilize African innovators and investors for the 2014 edition Consumer Electronics Show.
DACE is a flagship annual assembly of the leading companies and government agencies involved in promoting and developing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector throughout Africa. The maiden edition of the annual conference and exhibitions took place at the prestigious Abuja NICON Luxury in April, this year.
Under the partnership with CEA, DAGC is additionally authorized to organize a delegation of qualified business professionals from Africa to CEA’s annual tradeshow, namely- the 2014 International CES to be held from January 7th-9th, 2014 in Las Vegas, USA. This will be the first time Africa will be exhibiting at the event.
In a letter to DAGC, CEA noted that “the International Consumer Electronics Show –CES, is the world’s largest annual trade show for the broad-based consumer electronics market. This premier event brings together consumer electronics product manufacturers and service suppliers with the highest concentration of buyers, press and decision-makers in the retail distribution channel.”
Signed by John T. Kelley, director, International Programs of USA-based Consumer Electronics Association, the letter further noted that the purpose of the International CES is for industry affiliates to meet with manufacturers of consumer electronics products for potential business opportunities.
According to Kelley, “We value our relationship with Digital Africa and understand the value they bring by promoting CES within the African business community.”