The North Star illuminates the sustainable sports on the last day of the exhibition.

Professional rally driver Cristina Gutierrez highlights how sports can have a positive impact on the environment. Spotlight Africa discusses the investment ecosystem and enormous market potential on the continent.

Stability within the framework of Expand North Star

Sustainability is the central theme of Expand North Star event, as UAE continues to develop in the spirit of COP28. In collaboration with GITEX Impact, Expand North Star is organizing the Global Investment Forum and NetZero Venture Capital Forum at Dubai World Trade Centre. The events will help stimulate ESG funding growth, with expected investor investments of $1.5-2 trillion annually in climate technologies and clean tech startups by2025.

Extreme E: sport for environmental protection

Inspiring action in the field of the environment through sports, Extreme E is an international off-road racing series sanctioned by the FIA that uses electric SUVs for races in remote parts of the world, such as the deserts of Saudi Arabia or the Arctic. Race locations are chosen to draw attention to certain aspects of climate change. Extreme E also supports a "Legacy" program, providing social and environmental support for these locations.

The influence of Christina Gutierrez on the environment

Cristina Gutiérrez is one of the most talented racers on the Extreme E circuit and in 2021 became the third woman to stand on the podium at the Dakar Rally after winning one of the stages. She discussed how sports can impact the planet during an informal conversation titled "The Future of Sports: Making an Impact on the Planet." Gutiérrez emphasized that sports can be used for the common good. She is actively involved in the legacy program during race weeks. In her previous work, she focused on training in innovative and sustainable approaches to creating educational infrastructure, such as building eco-friendly school walls.

Gutierrez inspired women to overcome stereotypes and pursue their goals with determination, using platforms like sports to educate and inspire their followers.

GITEX AFRICA and the technology industry of the continent

The Dubai World Trade Center, through its subsidiary KAOUN International, launched GITEX AFRICA this year to explore the vast opportunities in the continent's technology industry. The event will return in 2024 with an exciting lineup that promises to drive digital transformation across various sectors. Building on the successful launch of the event in May, GITEX AFRICA 2024 will feature three new exhibition profiles: digital health, smart manufacturing, and agritech, highlighting Africa's growing importance in the global technology landscape.

The investment ecosystem in Africa

As part of the Spotlight Africa stream, Expand North Star held a panel discussion on the topic "Investment Ecosystem in Africa." The expert speakers on the panel, Fernando Cabral, head of venture business development at Djassi Africa, Mark Kleiner, co-founder and program director at Dream VC, Yassine Lagzioui, CEO of UM6P Ventures, and Monika Shupikay Simmons, head of Africa at ICON Corporate Finance, shared their insights on Africa's startup ecosystem.

They noted that East and West Africa have already set a precedent for creating a healthy startup ecosystem, and countries like Angola and Mozambique are now catching up. The speakers pointed out that these developing countries can benefit from the experience of more developed ecosystems while bringing their own ideas to the African tech community.

The African startup ecosystem is one of the most promising in the world, with enormous potential, as the continent's market of 1.4 billion people is full of opportunities for exploration, the audience learned. Speakers also emphasized the global nature of the African startup scene, with over 70 percent of venture investments in Africa coming from international investors.

Expand North Star, organized by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), took place this year in its largest edition at a new venue - Dubai Harbor. This significant global gathering welcomed over 1,800 startups at GITEX Global and Expand North Star from more than 100 countries, along with around 1,000 investors, with total assets exceeding $1 trillion.

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About the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC):

As a global business facilitator since 1979, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is home to the region's leading specialized conference and exhibition center. DWTC provides a platform for connecting people, products, innovations, and ideas from around the world through a dynamic calendar of international trade shows and its own mega-events in key industries. As a designated free zone, complemented by award-winning commercial real estate, DWTC plays a vital role in the growth of Dubai and the region, with an estimated total economic contribution of 200 billion dirhams, attracting over 30 million business visitors to Dubai in the past four decades.