African Agri Investment Indaba 2026 puts investment and scale on the agenda in Addis Ababa

The ninth African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 16–18 November 2026, bringing investors, financiers, government representatives and agribusiness leaders together to focus on investment and growth across Africa's food and agriculture sector.

The three-day event will be held at the Addis International Convention Centre, with this year's programme focused on unlocking investment, expanding viable agricultural businesses and projects, and improving access to finance and markets.

Addis Ababa, home to the African Union and a regional centre for development institutions and organisations working across the continent, provides a strategic setting for this pan-African event.

“Hosting the Indaba in Addis Ababa gives us an opportunity to broaden its reach across the continent and bring investment conversations closer to many of the institutions involved in Africa's agricultural development,” says Ben Leyka, CEO of the African Agri Council.

“The purpose of the Indaba is ultimately to connect viable agricultural businesses and projects with the capital, markets and partnerships they need to grow. Addis gives us a strong base from which to do that on a genuinely pan-African level.”

The 2026 theme, Scaling for Impact: Transforming Private Sector Commitments into Zero Hunger Realities, will focus on moving agricultural projects and businesses beyond pilot stage and into commercially viable operations.

Investment, finance and market access on the agenda

AAII 2026 will bring several specialist forums and programmes together alongside the main investment programme.

These include the Agribusiness CEO Forum and Agri-Trade Finance Congress, which will explore topics such as access to finance, currency risk, trade and supply chains; Market Access Africa, connecting producers and agribusinesses with buyers and off-takers; and the Agro-Industrial Park Forum, focused on investment in processing, infrastructure and agricultural industrial development.

Seeds & Startups will provide a platform for emerging agribusiness and agri-tech ventures, while the Investment Discovery Sessions will connect pre-screened agricultural projects and businesses directly with investors and development finance institutions.

The programme will also include the third Agri Investment Indaba Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation across Africa’s agricultural sector.

Confirmed speakers include Ethiopia's Minister of Agriculture, Addisu Arega Kitessa; Admassu Tadesse, Group President and CEO of the Trade and Development Bank; Surita Sandosham, President and CEO of Heifer International; and Mary Mulili, CEO of UBA Kenya.

“The financing challenge facing African agriculture is well understood,” says Leyka. “The more useful conversation now is about what prevents viable businesses and projects from reaching scale, and what investors, governments and the private sector can practically do about it.”

The African Agri Investment Indaba takes place from 16–18 November 2026 at the Addis International Convention Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

For programme, registration, exhibition and participation information, visit www.agri-indaba.com.

About the African Agri Investment Indaba

The African Agri Investment Indaba is an annual investment platform for Africa's food and agriculture sector. Organised by the African Agri Council and Equitics Media, it brings together investors, financial institutions, governments, agribusinesses, project developers, agro-processors and other participants across the agricultural value chain.