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In a significant move for global digital collaboration, the Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa) has teamed up with CANTO, aiming to reshape the future of the digital economy by connecting Africa and the Caribbean.
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A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths
CANTO, headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, represents a diverse network encompassing 33 Caribbean nations, including telecommunications operators, regulators, and technology providers.
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Its extensive ecosystem includes strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and the International Telecommunication Union.
Conversely, TICON Africa serves as a pan-African professional body, promoting ICT advancement through conferences, research initiatives, policy dialogue, and skills development programs across the continent. Together, these two organizations create a formidable alliance characterized by:
- Industry Reach: Access to markets across the Caribbean
- Research Depth: Professional coordination throughout Africa
- Shared Priorities: Focus on digital policy, trust, resilience, workforce readiness, and innovation
Exciting new chapter for Africa and the Caribbean
Teresa Wankin, Secretary General of CANTO, emphasized the partnership’s significance:
Teresa Wankin, Secretary General, CANTO
“For 40 years, CANTO has championed the Caribbean’s digital future. This partnership with TICON Africa marks an exciting new chapter in that journey. Africa and the Caribbean are not distant counterparts; we are parallel economies navigating the same digital imperatives. Through this partnership, we are creating a genuine bridge that connects our industries and elevates our voices on the global stage.”
David Gowu, President of TICON Africa, added:
David Gowu
“This partnership with CANTO represents an important milestone in TICON Africa’s mission to connect Africa’s ICT professionals with like-minded partners globally. We aim to create real opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development, and inclusive participation in the digital economy.”
Introducing the First Joint Initiative: Mid-Year Digital Masterclass
TICON Africa and CANTO will co-host a high-level virtual event titled:
Bridging Africa and the Caribbean’s Digital Future: Positioning Women & Youth at the Centre of Digital Cooperation
Date: 11 June 2026
Duration: 60-minute Digital Masterclass & Open Discussion
This masterclass will serve as the inaugural platform for Africa-Caribbean ICT engagement, fostering dialogue, exchange, and collaboration between the two regions.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The event will focus on advancing cooperation in critical areas of the digital ecosystem, including:
- Trusted and Resilient ICT Ecosystems
- Talent, Skills, and Leadership Pathways
- Innovation, Trade, and Institutional Partnerships
Register for the masterclass at https://ticonafrica.org/2026-ticon-africa-conference/2026-mid-year-digital-summit/
Building momentum toward 2026 global engagements
The Mid-Year Digital Summit forms part of a broader implementation roadmap that will extend into both organisations’ flagship events:
- The CANTO Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition (9–12 August 2026, Dominican Republic)
- The TICON Africa Conference (23–25 September 2026, Livingstone, Zambia) – jointly hosted with the African Marketing Confederation (AMC) and the African Supply Chain Confederation (ASCON).
Insights and connections generated during the June summit will directly inform discussions, partnerships, and programme development at both conferences, ensuring continuity and sustained engagement.
This partnership reflects the growing recognition that Africa and the Caribbean face parallel digital challenges and share significant untapped potential for collaboration.
By combining CANTO’s industry-driven networks with TICON Africa’s professional and research ecosystem, the partnership establishes a platform that is not only collaborative, but also practical, scalable, and outcome-oriented.
