The official launch of the C-Star 3rd edition
Yesterday morning, the Chairman of Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority, Aboubaker Omar Hadi, officially launched the third edition of the C-Star Program in collaboration with China Merchants Group at the Red Sea World. The program, themed “Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Youth,” aims to empower young entrepreneurs across Africa.
The event was attended by Mariam Hamadou Ali, Minister of Digital Economy and Innovation; H.E. Hu Bin, the Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti; Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group; and Philippe Clerc, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP.
Since its inception, the C-Star Program has trained 55 participants who have already benefited from its initiatives. This year, the program welcomed 31 exceptional young entrepreneurs from 15 African nations, spanning Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa. 35% of the participants are women.
The C-Star Program seeks to build a sustainable ecosystem that fosters talent development and inclusive economic growth. This edition will focus on developing participants’ skills through comprehensive training sessions, workshops, personalized project support, and opportunities for networking with international investors and incubators.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi emphasized DPFZA's dedication to ‘equipping the youth with the tools needed to innovate, create, and succeed.’ He reminded the Vision 2035 initiative of H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, which aspires to“federate Africa’s Youth through Culture and Education”.
Minister Mariam Hamadou Ali underscored the program’s alignment with Djibouti’s national strategies for digital transformation and economic inclusion. She highlighted “the critical role of youth in driving modernization and positioning Djibouti as a regional hub for digital and logistics innovation.”
Mr.Miao Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchant Group stated in his speech that they will “continue providing more growth ladders for African youth to realize their entrepreneurial dreams, and promote Djibouti to become a hub for youth innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.”
This third edition of the C-Star Program marks once again a significant milestone in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, further strengthening Djibouti’s commitment to placing youth at the center of its economic development and paving the way for a brighter future for young African entrepreneurs.