Paris, 17 May 2019
President Kagame today attended this year’s edition of Viva Technology Conference, known as “VivaTech”- the world’s rendezvous for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation.
Held in Paris from 16-18 May 2019, VivaTech is an annual international technology conference, dedicated to innovation-driven enterprises and startups.
President Kagame and President Macky Sall of Senegal shared Africa’s progress in digital economy in a Fireside chat moderated by Maurice Lévy, the Chairman of Publicis Groupe.
“Technology is as old as our societies or these traditions. But those were old technologies. Some of the new technologies have been derived from these old technologies. In whichever sector of the society we are talking about. It became very clear from the beginning that technology is going to be a bridge between the traditional part of our continued growth into the future, and then connecting the past with the future, and we have to be laying this bridge in the present. Technology serves many purposes: it brings societies together, it brings a multiplier effect to everything one is doing in whichever sector with the efficiencies that come with it,” President Kagame said.
In its fourth edition, VivaTech convenes over 100,000 of the world’s brightest minds and talents from 125 countries all over the world, of which 9,000 are startups and 1,900 investors.
VivaTech showcases Africa’s innovative tech ecosystems through Afric@Tech Zone which highlights more than 100 startups from Africa. Countries highlighted include Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Mauritius, and Rwanda.
Seven companies from Rwanda are showcasing the growing innovation taking place in the country as well as the investment opportunities presented by the Kigali Innovation City and Knowledge hub.
The President later paid a courtesy call to La Francophonie Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo at her office in Paris where the two leaders held talks.