The second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), a prestigious high-level gathering intended to hasten Africa’s integration into the global trade ecosystem, has been announced by Access Bank Plc.
To create practical solutions for boosting intra-African and international trade, the conference, which is set for March 11, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), intends to bring together prominent figures from the fields of government, finance, trade, logistics, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and policy.
With the theme “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact,” ATC 2026 will build on the success of its first edition, which brought together top decision-makers from 28 nations. Ministerial panels, high-level plenaries, partner-led workshops, innovation and exhibition zones, media studios, carefully chosen networking lounges, and cultural showcases are all part of the event’s varied program, which aims to promote cooperation, spur investment, and turn goals into real outcomes.
Access Bank Plc’s Group Managing Director and CEO, Roosevelt Ogbonna, stressed the significance of the conference as a forum for action.
According to Ogbonna: “Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations. The question today is not about potential, but about execution. ATC 2026 is designed to bring together the key players shaping policy, infrastructure, capital, and innovation to build Africa’s trade future.
“At Access Bank, we see ourselves not just as financiers but as connectors of markets, ideas, and opportunities. Our goal is to help African businesses move from ambition to impact, from local relevance to global competitiveness,” he added.
Continuing, with operations in 24 countries worldwide, including 16 in Africa, Access Bank is uniquely positioned to enable cross-border trade, open up regional value chains, and make doing business across markets easier. By examining policy harmonisation, infrastructure development, digitisation, and creative financing to unleash Africa’s full trade capacity, the conference will demonstrate the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In addition, sustainable trade practices, market access solutions, the role of technology in commerce, and new financing models to support Africa’s growing industrial and SME sectors will all be discussed.
Ogbonna had this to say about Africa’s position in global trade: “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.”
