SENIA 2022 : Benin in the midst of artificial intelligence

Cotonou was the attraction of digital innovations last weekend. It is thanks to the first Salon of Digital Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (SENIA) 2022 that the economic capital of Benin has hosted 7 at 9 July 2022. The event was held at the Palais des Congres in Cotonou.

Space for multi-sectoral exchange between different players in the world of ICT but well beyond, SENIA wants to be a hub of electronic geniuses for start-ups in Benin, from Africa and the world. According to the president of the SENIA organizing committee 2022, the event is part of the continuity of the actions that are carried out in the digital sector in Benin. Indeed, since 2016, Benin has embarked on a digital revolution which is materializing through colossal investments in the construction of digital infrastructure, the dematerialization of public administration and the establishment of a digital ecosystem that inspires confidence and promotes job creation. “The uses resulting from this technological blockchain set up by the government, in particular the data center, the interoperability of data the national platform of public services will generate a massive generation of data that it is important to manage and enhance to drive the economic and social development of our country” said Gaspard Datondji, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital and Digitization and President of the SENIA Organizing Committee 2022. It is within this framework and with a view to making the best use of this data to address the needs of priority sectors that, under the leadership of the minister, "A national strategy on artificial intelligence and the megaton has been initiated and we are moving towards the inexorable adoption of this strategy," he added..

The work revolved around a major theme "Digital entrepreneurship and the challenges of Artificial Intelligence for the socio-economic development of Africa".. The importance of Senia no longer needs to be demonstrated, according to the Minister of Digital and Digitization. “The digital revolution in which the world is today subjected, artificial intelligence now occupies a place of choice. And induces economic and sovereignty dynamics that make it an essential area for a digital developing country like ours.. It is therefore important to be aware and we have done so because there are real economic issues behind artificial intelligence,” says Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou.

Guest at the launch of the show, Modest Kérékou, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Youth Employment shared new standards for business creation and start-up promotion in Benin. In view of the works, the SENIOR 2022 was a great success according to Gaspard Datondji, chairman of the show's organizing committee.

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)