The 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum is expected to place strong emphasis on how African economies and enterprises can move from fragmented growth to large-scale competitiveness.
With a focus on shifting towards building larger markets, stronger institutions, and more competitive enterprises capable of operating beyond national boundaries.
A high-level gathering scheduled for May 14–15 in Kigali is expected to convene about 2,800 participants, including chief executives, heads of state, government officials, and global investors from over 70 countries.
Organizers describe the Forum as the largest international meeting dedicated to Africa’s private sector, positioning it as a platform where decision-makers engage not only in dialogue but also in investment discussions and partnerships.
The fourth edition is under the theme “Scale or Fail: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership?”
Discussions are expected to examine how African businesses can grow beyond domestic markets and operate at regional and continental levels with greater efficiency and competitiveness.
At the center of this conversation is the structural challenge of fragmentation, which continues to limit cross-border expansion due to differences in regulation, infrastructure, and market access.
The Forum’s agenda emphasizes mobilizing capital to support large-scale enterprise growth. This includes aligning public policy frameworks with private-sector investment to enable expansion in key sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and digital services.
A defining feature of the platform is its public-private structure, which brings government leaders and investors into direct engagement on investment priorities, reforms, and financing models.
A significant part of the discussions is expected to focus on regional economic integration. The objective is to explore how African economies can reduce trade barriers, harmonize regulations, and improve connectivity to support larger, more efficient markets.
The underlying direction is to enable businesses to operate across multiple countries with fewer constraints, creating conditions for scale-driven growth.
While policy discussions form a core part of the Forum, its design also prioritizes deal-making and investment facilitation. Participants engage in structured meetings, investment pitches, and partnership discussions alongside formal sessions.
This dual structure is intended to bridge the gap between strategic dialogue and practical economic outcomes, particularly in sectors where scale is essential for competitiveness.
Panel discussions will focus on key sectors including energy and gas development; industrial transformation and smart manufacturing; logistics and supply chain systems; mining; digital economy and technology infrastructure; talent development; green energy; the growing sports economy; real estate; and agriculture, among others.
The Forum Awards will also return as part of the program, recognizing companies and leaders contributing to Africa’s economic growth and transformation agenda.
The awards highlight excellence across key categories, including leadership, investment impact, innovation, business growth, and contributions to sustainable development.
