The world's largest technology event opened its doors on Monday, October 13, 2025, in Dubai. Until October 17, more than 6,000 companies and 2,000 startups from 180 countries will showcase their innovative solutions. Senegal is not a participating country, but one of its entrepreneurs, Daouda Sow, is representing the nation through Techso Group.

Daouda Sow, Managing Director of Techso Group, a company specializing in cybersecurity, present in Morocco, France and Senegal, explained: “Techso Group is a company specialized in cybersecurity, physically based in three countries – Morocco, France and Senegal – but which operates through its projects throughout Africa, West Africa, Central Africa and East Africa, where we support the banking and telecom world in structuring projects to secure information systems.”

His professional career began in France, where he worked as an IT specialist at the Picardy Regional Council, before joining a company in Morocco in 2012 to expand its activities in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, he co-founded Techso Group. The company focuses on cybersecurity and deploys several specialized units, supporting banking entities in PCI-DSS certification and participating in SWIFT's Customer Security Program. "We are one of the first companies, and today probably the only one, to have completed the process to support banks in strengthening security around the SWIFT payment platform," said Daouda Sow.

Techso Group also acts as a security solutions integrator and remotely monitors multiple systems from its Security Operations Center based in Morocco. The company collaborates with regional and African institutions, including the African Union, Sonatel, and Sonalec. It is currently leading a project in Senegal for a centralized information systems security monitoring center. Recently, the General Directorate of Taxes and Estates was the victim of a cyberattack that paralyzed its website, a recurring phenomenon facing Senegalese institutions in recent years.

Daouda Sow analyzed Senegal's vulnerability to cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for effective governance. "Unfortunately, this is a global phenomenon, not just in Senegal. We need to invest in technology and be supported by experts," he said. He emphasized the importance of user training and awareness, adding that the state must develop skills and implement coordination tools to respond quickly to incidents. Daouda Sow also drew attention to digital infrastructure.

For him, the inauguration of the data center in June 2021 represents progress for data sovereignty, but is not enough to guarantee security. "Having a state-of-the-art data center is extremely good, but security is something else. You first need skills," he said. According to the expert, protecting digital infrastructure is a pillar of national development. He believes that Senegal has understood the importance of digital technology in its strategy, particularly through the New Technology Deal. "When we want to rely on digital technology to create added value, we must give ourselves the means, in particular to ensure trust, and trust is cybersecurity," he said.

As the sole Senegalese representative at this major technology and artificial intelligence event, Daouda Sow spoke of the importance of participating in international events like GITEX Global. "The government must be more present at international exhibitions, particularly GITEX, to showcase its capabilities, attract investors, and strengthen programs like the New Technology Deal," he concluded.