Access Bank Plc has announced plans to host the second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), a high-level strategic gathering aimed at accelerating Africa’s participation and influence in global trade.
The conference is scheduled for March 11, 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa, and is expected to bring together key leaders from government, finance, trade, logistics, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and policy to advance practical solutions for expanding intra-African and global trade.
Building on the success of its maiden edition, which attracted 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.”
According to the bank, the conference will feature a robust programme, including a ministerial panel, high-level plenaries, partner-led workshops, an innovation and exhibition arena, media content studios, curated networking lounges, as well as an awards and cultural showcase. These sessions are designed to foster collaboration, mobilise capital flows, and translate strategic ambition into measurable outcomes.
Speaking on the importance of the conference, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said ATC was conceived as more than a conventional conference.
“Africa is no longer at the margins of global trade conversations. The question today is not about potential, it is about execution.
“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,” Ogbonna said.
He added that Access Bank’s role goes beyond financing.
“At Access Bank, we see ourselves not just as financiers, but as connectors of markets, ideas, and opportunities. Our role is to help African businesses move from ambition to impact, from local relevance to global competitiveness,” he said.
With operations in 24 countries globally, including 16 across Africa, the bank noted that its footprint uniquely positions it to support cross-border trade, strengthen regional value chains, and simplify the complexities of doing business across markets.
“Our presence across Africa and key global corridors gives us a front-row seat to the realities of trade.
“It also gives us the responsibility to design solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and future-facing. ATC 2026 is part of that commitment,” Ogbonna noted.
The conference will place strong emphasis on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), examining how policy harmonisation, infrastructure development, digitisation, and innovative financing can unlock Africa’s full trade potential.
Participants will also explore the impact of technology on global commerce, sustainable trade practices, market access solutions, and new financing models to support Africa’s growing SME and industrial base.
ATC 2026 is expected to attract a distinguished line-up of policymakers, global investors, development finance institutions, multinational corporations, and African business leaders, creating what the organisers described as a carefully curated ecosystem of influence and action.
Reaffirming the vision behind the conference, Ogbonna said: “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.”
Further details and registration information are available on the conference website: https:
