Bridging Markets: German-African IT & BPO Summit – Showcasing Africa’s Outsourcing Potential

Exploring opportunities and challenges in Africa's outsourcing sector

The event began with a focused working session for government representatives, providing a platform to present, share, and discuss best practices for promoting domestic IT and BPO sectors. Stefan Schott of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation opened the session with insights on successful strategies from Bangalore, India. This was followed by contributions from representatives of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda. Designed to encourage open dialogue, the session aimed to foster collaboration and mutual learning by enabling participants to exchange experiences, successes, and challenges in building resilient and thriving IT and BPO ecosystems.            

The summit officially kicked off with keynote speakers highlighting the opportunities and challenges that businesses may face while tapping into Africa's potential. Notable industry figures, such as Mark Angus, CEO of Genesis Global Business Services, discussed the continent's growing multilingual workforce, its robust technological advancements, and the cost-efficiency that sets it apart from traditional outsourcing destinations. Additionally, Volker Maiborn, Chairman of the Advisory Board of MaibornWolff GmbH, showcased successful strategies for entry and growth of IT companies in Africa based on partnerships with local firms and local talent.

A step toward strengthening German-African collaboration

The summit’s agenda was designed to foster exchange and collaboration among 100 corporate and government representatives. Experts from across the IT and BPO landscape debated Africa’s strategic importance in the global digital economy. The discussion focused on Africa’s potential as a prime destination for BPO services, shared insights from companies operating in and outsourcing to Africa, and highlighted key factors driving the growth of the sector. Through country spotlights, delegates gained a deeper understanding of specific African markets, their strengths, and the opportunities they present for foreign investment. The following networking session connected attendees with government representatives, international investors, and industry leaders to discuss partnerships and potential collaborations.

The event underscored the importance of fostering dialogue and deepening networks between German and African businesses – looking in particular at Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Tunisia. As German companies look to outsource parts of their businesses globally, Africa represents a promising avenue for investment, promoting mutual growth through collaboration. In a nutshell, the summit acted as a catalyst for action and set the stage for ongoing partnerships and growth, cementing Africa’s reputation as a vibrant and viable player in the global outsourcing industry.

The event formed part of the Kenyan-German Digital Dialogue and was organised together with the German-African Business Association and Invest for Jobs on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and BMDV.