Africa trade expo and summit set for May

The Africa Economic Leadership Council has announced the Invest in Africa Trade Expo and Business Summit 2026, scheduled to take place from 28 to 30 May in Swakopmund.

The gathering is intended to bring together African governments, global investors, private sector leaders, development institutions and small businesses under one platform to promote trade, attract investment and deepen economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Organisers say the expo will serve as a marketplace for ideas, partnerships and capital, with a focus on sectors including mining, energy, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and emerging technologies. The council says the summit comes at a pivotal moment, as AfCFTA, which creates the world's largest free trade area, moves from policy to practical implementation.

The programme will include high-level dialogues, deal rooms, exhibitions, business-to-business matchmaking sessions and sector-specific forums covering value addition, local content and cross-border trade facilitation.

AELC leadership said the initiative was designed not merely as an event but as a broader effort to reposition Africa as a unified and globally competitive investment destination.

Namibia's role as host nation was framed as strategic, given the country's political stability, governance record and investment potential as a gateway to Southern Africa. The council said engagements were being pursued at the highest levels of government, including with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, to align national priorities with continental trade ambitions.

Investors, exhibitors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, state-owned enterprises, foreign missions and development partners have been invited to participate.