African Agri Investment Indaba 2026 turns dialogue into deals

The ninth African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII) will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 16–18 November 2026, bringing investors, financiers, governments and agribusiness leaders together with a clear focus on turning dialogue into deals and driving investment into Africa's food and agriculture sector.

The three-day event will be held at the Addis International Convention Center, with this year's programme focused on connecting viable agricultural businesses and projects with capital, improving access to finance and markets, and supporting businesses to scale.

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

“Hosting the Indaba in Addis Ababa gives us an opportunity to broaden its reach 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. We want to move beyond talking about Africa's agricultural potential and focus on turning those conversations into tangible investment opportunities.”

The 2026 theme, Scaling for Impact: Transforming Private Sector Commitments into Zero Hunger Realities, reflects this focus on moving agricultural businesses and projects beyond potential 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, focusing on issues including 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.

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

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