South Korean tech company CAST is honored with a special prize at GITEX Africa 2025 event
In a significant milestone for Korean-African business relations, a South Korean startup named CAST has won a special award at GITEX Africa 2025. This prestigious event, held in Marrakech, Morocco from April 14 to 16, is the African edition of GITEX Global, an information and communication technology (ICT) trade show that has been held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for over four decades.
The award recognises CAST's role in strengthening tech collaboration and expanding business connections between South Korea and African markets. As a member of the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) awarded CAST during the Supernova Challenge, a global pitch competition for startups held at GITEX Africa.
The Korea-Africa Foundation, instrumental in facilitating connections between Korean startups and African buyers and investors, organised a Korean Pavilion at the event. This year's GITEX Africa brought together over 1,400 companies, 650 government agencies, and more than 350 investors, making it the continent's largest ICT exhibition.
Korean startups from various sectors, including ICT, environment, tourism, agriculture, education, and construction, participated in the exhibition. The event resulted in tangible outcomes for participating companies, including proof-of-concept (PoC) agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and letters of intent (LOIs) for future investments.
The significance of CAST receiving this award lies in its potential to serve as a bridge for technology and innovation exchange between Korea and Africa. GITEX Africa is an important tech event fostering digital growth in Africa, and South Korea’s participation and recognition there reflect the growing interest and investment from Korean startups in African tech ecosystems.
The award spotlights opportunities for Korean startups to introduce advanced technologies tailored to African markets. Recognition at a prominent African tech event can attract more Korean investors to African ventures and vice versa. It encourages both regions to co-develop solutions addressing local challenges, improving infrastructure, finance, health, and education.
Successful business collaborations often lead to closer governmental cooperation and favorable trade conditions. As such, the award is not just a recognition of South Korean innovation, but also a catalyst for deeper Korean-African business integration and technological cooperation.
Looking ahead, the Korea-Africa Foundation will continue to serve as a bridge to help Korean companies achieve meaningful results in the African market. GITEX Africa, under the guidance of the Korea-Africa Foundation, has been expanding steadily over the past three years, according to Kim Young-chae, President of the Korea-Africa Foundation. This trend suggests a promising future for Korean-African business partnerships and technological collaboration.
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, recognized CAST's contribution in the field of technology during the Supernova Challenge at GITEX Africa, thereby highlighting opportunities for advanced technology tailored to African markets.
- As a result of the award received at GITEX Africa, CAST's role extends beyond innovation recognition, fostering closer governmental cooperation and favorable trade conditions for Korean-African business integration and technological cooperation.
