July 13, 2024
The Charter Cities Institute (“CCI”) hosted a well-attended and engaging event on 11th June 2024 in Fumba Town, home of the new African School of Economics – Zanzibar (“ASE-Z”). The event, which featured a keynote address by Minister of Tourism & Heritage, Hon. Mudrick R. Soraga, also had a diverse panel, including representatives from CCI, CPS Africa (“CPS”), Wasoko, the London School of Economics (“LSE”), Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (“ZIPA”), and the Zanzibar Research Centre for Socio-Economic and Policy Analysis (“ZRCP”) among many others.
Opening the panel, Kurtis Lockhart, Executive Director of CCI, discussed the transformative potential of charter cities. He emphasized the need to tackle rapid urbanization, the importance of inclusive communities, and strong policy frameworks. Following speakers included Al-Hajji, the Director of Planning at the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority, who highlighted the importance of investment in the region, a sentiment echoed by the CEO of Wasoko, Daniel Yu, who explored the thriving African tech ecosystem and introduced the “Silicon Zanzibar” Initiative, aimed at making Zanzibar a tech hub for Africa.
Sebastian Dietzold, CEO of CPS, shared insights on the evolution of Fumba Town from a small development to a vibrant urban center supporting Zanzibar’s economic growth, “supporting Zanzibar’s economic growth and rapid urban expansion.”
A special guest presentation came from Professor Michael Muthukrishna (LSE) who presented on the role of cultural evolution in the success of startup cities, using examples like Hong Kong to illustrate his points.
Finally, Keynote Speaker, Hon. Mudrick R. Soraga, Minister of Tourism & Heritage, emphasized the critical role of tourism and heritage in Zanzibar’s development, noting the “critical role of tourism, culture, and local community engagement in the development of the Fumba peninsula and of Zanzibar more generally,” and adding that he “one-hundred-percent agree(s) with CCI’s vision for the urban development of the island.”
The event was covered by several Zanzibar-based news outlets, including SN-TV, ZAN-TV, and ZBC.
You can view all the speakers and closing panel session on the Charter Cities Institute’s YouTube channel.
For more information please contact CCI’s Head of Communications, Michael Holstein ([email protected])
