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Global policymakers, finance experts and trade strategists are set to converge at the second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), hosted by Access Bank Plc as part of efforts to accelerate Africa’s integration into global trade systems.
The high-level conference will hold on March 11, 2026 in South Africa, bringing renewed focus to Africa’s trade potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. Discussions will explore how policy alignment, infrastructure investment, digital transformation and innovative financing can unlock sustainable trade growth across the continent.
With the theme “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact,” the conference builds on the success of its inaugural edition, which attracted senior decision-makers from 28 countries across Africa and beyond.
The keynote address will be delivered jointly by Kennedy Mbekeani, Director General, Southern Africa Region, African Development Bank, and Kwabena Ayirebi, Managing Director, Banking Operations at African Export-Import Bank. The keynote will examine emerging financing models capable of strengthening intra-African trade and supporting continental economic integration.
The welcome address will be delivered by Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, who said the conference represents a shift from dialogue to execution. “Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations. The question today is not about potential, it is about execution,” Ogbonna said. “The Africa Trade Conference is designed as a platform for action, not rhetoric. It brings together the people shaping policy, capital, infrastructure, and innovation to build the systems that will define Africa’s trade future.”
Tolu Oyekan, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group, will present insights on “Africa Trade Outlook 2026,” analysing macroeconomic trends, supply chain disruptions, and new growth opportunities across strategic sectors.
Meanwhile, Mike Ogbalu, CEO of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, will discuss “Building a Connected Africa Through Trade, Payments & Technology,” focusing on payment interoperability and digital financial infrastructure.
The conference will also feature a high-level ministerial panel comprising trade and economic policymakers, including Ghana’s Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Botswana’s Trade and Entrepreneurship Minister Tiroeaone Ntsima, and international finance and banking representatives from institutions including IFC and Deutsche Bank.
Ogbonna emphasised that Access Bank’s continental presence strengthens its role as a trade enabler. The bank operates in 24 countries globally, including 16 African markets, positioning it to support cross-border commerce and regional value chain development.
“Our presence across Africa and global corridors gives us a front-row seat to trade realities. We must design solutions that are inclusive, scalable and future-facing,” he said.
He added, “Africa will not be a spectator in the remaking of global trade. We will be one of its architects. ATC 2026 is where those blueprints will be drawn.”
ATC 2026 is expected to drive partnerships, deepen policy dialogue, and provide practical strategies to help African businesses compete globally while strengthening intra-continental trade networks.
