Palestinian Entrepreneurs Attract Attention at "GITEX Africa – Marrakech"

At the heart of "GITEX Africa – Marrakech" exhibition, amidst competing ideas from around the world, Jerusalemite entrepreneurs stood out with their nascent projects in technology and innovation, asserting their presence not only as specialists but as young people capable of creativity and excellence despite the challenges facing their city.

With remarkable confidence, these entrepreneurs showcased their projects on one of the largest technological platforms in the African continent, expressing their ambitions to expand their businesses and build partnerships with international investors, enabling them to develop their companies and transform them into tools of support and resilience, and paving the way for other entrepreneurs.

This participation was not merely an attendance at an international exhibition, but a real opportunity to discover new markets and open up to global experiences, with the support of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, affiliated with the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by the Moroccan monarch King Mohammed VI.

In this context, Doaa Al-Balawi, who developed the "GrowApp" application with her partner Safaa Abu Helou, says that "the idea originated from daily challenges within nurseries, before transforming into a digital solution that allows parents to follow the details of their children's day instantly, in addition to providing an integrated administrative and financial system for institutions."

She adds: "Our participation in GITEX Africa is not just a presentation of an idea, but an opportunity to meet companies from different countries, and to prove that innovation can be born even in the most difficult environments."

In another corner of the exhibition, Abdul Rahman Barham presented his project "Hives 360", based on employing the Internet of Things in developing the beekeeping sector, through smart monitoring systems and data analysis that contributes to increasing productivity.

He points out that this participation comes as a continuation of a previous experience in which his project was ranked among the top 80 companies, adding: "This time we are participating with a clear plan to expand into the African market, especially the Moroccan one, and build partnerships with specialists in agricultural technology."

As for Amal Al-Maati, she presented the "Burhan" platform, which relies on artificial intelligence in psychological assessment and recruitment, with the aim of aligning youth skills with the needs of the labor market.

She explains that the platform "does not only look for skills, but for inclinations and passion, in an attempt to redefine the relationship between youth and the labor market, and help companies and stakeholders choose the right person in the right place."

She indicates that her journey with the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency began from the stages of incubation and training, leading to participation in this international event.

She adds: "We have achieved important results by communicating with investors and gaining a deeper understanding of African markets, which will help us expand in the future."

Despite the diversity of their projects, these entrepreneurs are united in their gratitude to the Kingdom of Morocco and the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, which provided them with this opportunity, emphasizing that they were not just participants, but ambassadors for their city and their cause.

For his part, the Director in charge of managing the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, Mohammed Salem Al-Sharqawi, affirmed that the participation of six Palestinian startups in "GITEX Africa-Marrakech" falls within the agency's vision to empower youth and enhance their presence in technology fields, as part of its digital strategy for the period 2024-2027.

He explained that this initiative receives continuous support from the Kingdom of Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, in the context of supporting sustainable development projects in Jerusalem, in addition to direct social and humanitarian aid.

He added that participation in the exhibition provided entrepreneurs with unique opportunities to communicate with international investors and explore new markets, emphasizing that the agency's support begins with incubation, training, and capacity building, leading to empowering youth to showcase their projects on international platforms.

He pointed out that these efforts contribute to transforming ideas into sustainable projects, capable of creating job opportunities and providing stable sources of income, thereby strengthening the resilience of Jerusalemites on their land.

The participation of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency in the fourth edition of the exhibition was distinguished by the establishment of an institutional pavilion and a special wing for the "BMAQ Innovation Hub" incubator, with the participation of six Palestinian startups working in various fields, including artificial intelligence, financial technology, e-commerce, agricultural technology, and digital solutions.