By Kingsley Samuel
More than 20,000 participants, including global technology leaders, policymakers, investors, startups and industry experts, are expected in Luanda next week as Angola hosts the sixth edition of the International Information and Communication Technologies Forum, ANGOTIC 2026.
The three-day event, scheduled for June 11 to 13 at the Talatona Convention Centre, will be held under the theme, “On the Road to Digital Transformation.”
Organisers said the forum will serve as a showcase of Angola’s digital transformation journey and the significant investments made by the government in expanding the country’s information and communication technology, ICT, infrastructure.
According to the organisers, the theme reflects major milestones achieved in recent years, including the deployment of ANGOSAT-2, the National Space Programme, the National Broadband Network Project, expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure, the 2Africa submarine cable project, modernisation of meteorological services through INAMET, Digital Terrestrial Television, as well as the recent launch of the Government Data Centre and Cloud Platform.
The investments, they noted, have improved access to telecommunications and digital services while supporting innovation and business growth across the country.ANGOTIC, which has become one of Africa’s leading technology gatherings, will provide a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, exhibitions, business partnerships, capacity building and discussions on emerging ICT trends and challenges.
The forum will feature exhibitions showcasing innovative products and services, panel discussions, training sessions, product launches, business meetings and agreement signings among industry stakeholders.
A major highlight of this year’s edition is the Startup Zone, designed as a comprehensive innovation ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and emerging businesses.
The Startup Zone will include an Entrepreneurship Support Centre, Investment Centre, Artificial Intelligence for Business Training Room, Digital Payments Hub and a Hackathon focused on Artificial Intelligence and Space Technology.
Through the Entrepreneurship Support Centre, participants will receive support across various stages of business development, including idea generation, feasibility studies, financing, company registration, branding, certification, and intellectual property registration.
Startups and businesses participating in the event will also have the opportunity to obtain certification from Angola’s National Institute for Support of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, INAPEM, enabling them to access incentives such as tax exemptions and eligibility for government contracts.
The Investment Centre will provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with access to investment opportunities and microcredit solutions, while the Digital Payments Hub will facilitate partnerships for the integration of digital payment services on a single platform.
Organisers said the Startup Zone has already reached full capacity, with more than 300 startups confirmed for participation.
The event will also feature a Kids Zone aimed at introducing young people to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, through hands-on experiences and interactive learning.
Activities planned for the Kids Zone include electronics and coding classes, robotics workshops, digital content creation, virtual and augmented reality experiences, technology simulations, e-sports learning programmes and exhibitions of student-developed innovation projects.
According to organisers, nearly 100 local and international speakers have been confirmed for the forum, alongside approximately 200 exhibiting and non-exhibiting companies.
The event is also expected to attract government officials, academics, researchers, technology enthusiasts and media organisations from across Africa and beyond.
Organisers disclosed that 11 local and international companies have already signed on as official sponsors, while close to 5,000 tickets have been sold ahead of the event.
To encourage wider participation, ticket sales remain open through the ANGOTIC website, including a Family Ticket package that allows up to three children accompanied by a guardian to attend with a single ticket.
The organisers expressed confidence that ANGOTIC 2026 will further strengthen Angola’s position as a growing digital innovation hub and contribute to broader discussions on Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
