On Wednesday, 08 August 2018, UJ’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Prof Tshilidzi Marwala – together with ministers H.E. Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and H.E. Ms Bogolo Kenewendo – will discuss “Regulations and Policies: Nurturing Innovation in the Digital Economy” at Wits University’s Linder Auditorium.

About 800 eminent speakers in government, entrepreneurs, investors, and educational institutions’ representatives will attend the dialogue. The three panellists will together explore the different, vital facets of digital economic opportunities in Africa under the theme “Netrepreneurs: The Rise of Africa’s Digital Lions.”

Mr Jack Ma, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group and Special Advisor of UNCTAD for young entrepreneurs and small business, will also attend the dialogue.

Across Africa, eCommerce platforms flanked by payments, logistics, tourism and big data partners are starting to lift national economies. The dialogue seeks to explore the opportunities, as well as challenges, facing a new digital Africa and the role that the public sector, investors, entrepreneurs and educational organizations can play in this transformation.

Some of the topics that will form part of the conversation include, among others: The Creators of a New Economy: Constructing Digital Businesses; Ways forward for a Digital Africa; Access to Capital: Fueling Transformation Through Investment; Digital Talents: Enabling youth to Power the New Economy.

Panelists

H.E. Ms. Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa

H.E. Ms. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Botswana

Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala Vice-Chancellor University of Johannesburg, South Africa

The event is scheduled to start at 1pm SA time.