Access Bank to Host Africa Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town

Access Bank Plc has announced the upcoming second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), a premier high-level event aimed at accelerating Africa’s integration into the global trade ecosystem. Scheduled for 11 March 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), the conference aims to bring together influential leaders from government, finance, trade, logistics, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and policy to forge actionable solutions for expanding intra-African and global trade.

Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which hosted senior decision-makers from 28 countries, ATC 2026 will be held under the theme: “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact.” The event promises a diverse programme including ministerial panels, high-level plenaries, partner-led workshops, innovation and exhibition zones, media studios, curated networking lounges, and cultural showcases designed to foster collaboration, catalyze investment, and translate ambitions into tangible results.

Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, emphasized the importance of the conference as a platform for action. “Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations,” he stated. “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.”

He further noted, “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.”

With operations spanning 24 countries worldwide—including 16 across Africa—Access Bank’s extensive footprint uniquely positions it to facilitate cross-border trade, unlock regional value chains, and simplify doing business across markets. The conference will highlight the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by exploring policy harmonization, infrastructure development, digitization, and innovative financing to unleash Africa’s full trade capacity.

Discussions will also focus on the role of technology in commerce, sustainable trade practices, market access solutions, and new financing models to support Africa’s expanding SME and industrial sectors.

Ogbonna concluded, “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.”