The year 2015 will be a busy one for African business conferences.
We’re highlighting opportunities in sub-Saharan African transportation, infrastructure, investment and banking, healthcare and technology.
The following list of conferences is broken up into business sector categories to help you quickly find events that fit your interests in Africa, U.S. and U.K.
Also watch for AFKInsider‘s features on 2015 Africa Electric Power Conferences and 2015 Africa Oil, Gas and Mining Conferences lists.
South Africa Industry and Technology Fair (May 20-22, Johannesburg) The “umbrella event for African industry,” this event is a mix of 10 smaller conferences and workshops targeting manufacturing, engineering, water, petrochemical, plastics and the energy sectors. Representative companies include Pumps Valves & Pipes Africa; Watertec Africa; Petrotex Africa; Intermac Africa; Manutec Africa; Smart Automation Africa; Afriplast Expo; Energex Africa; IndustrialGreenTec Africa; and Empowertec Africa.
Technology, Media and Telecoms Africa Conference 2015 (Aug.19-20, Lagos, Nigeria) This conference will address issues concerning IT systems management, big data and analytics, innovation and technology from startups to multi-million dollar businesses. Expect to see a diverse group of participants, including government officials, information management officers, investors, telecom and cyber security experts, IT engineers, marketing professionals and entrepreneurs.
Breakbulk Africa 2015 (Feb. 16-19, Johannesburg) This conference offers the chance to investigate cargo transportation industry opportunities available in Africa. According to organizers, “the diversity of delegate titles, companies, cargoes and geographies that attend Breakbulk events creates a unique transactional environment not found at any other event.”
Africa Jet Fuel & Aviation Conference 2015 (Feb. 26-27, Johannesburg) This event provides strategy sharing and business networking opportunities, attracting attendees from leading aviation fuel producers and suppliers, aircraft and engine manufacturers, airport operators and airlines. Some of the issues to be tackled include expansion opportunities at African airports and improving African airline profitability.
7th Africa Transportation Technology Transfer Conference (May 11-15, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe) The International Road Federation partners with the Technology Transfer Center in Botswana to offer participants a chance to explore issues grouped around six themes: improving accessibility and transport services; new technology; road safety; pavement design and construction material specifications; and financing of transport infrastructure.
Africa Rail 2015 (June 30 – July 1, Johannesburg) African rail operators and heavy haul cargo owners meet to discuss infrastructure, efficiency, rolling stock procurement and operations issues that save time and money.
TransAfrica Exhibition and Conference (October 2015, Johannesburg – no date yet) This event unites all sectors of the transport industry — road, rail, pipeline, sea and air transport — to explore development and investment opportunities that drive regional growth, including new project opportunities, funding models and the modernization and maintenance of existing transport infrastructure.
13th Intermodal Africa 2015 Exhibition and Conference (Oct. 29-30, Lusaka, Zambia) The biggest annual container ports and terminal operations exhibition and conference in Africa, this event will feature 30 speakers addressing issues and challenges of global transportation. In attendance will be harbor masters, port engineers, maintenance supervisors and procurement decision makers together with the region’s leading shippers, cargo owners, importers/exporters, shipping lines, terminal and railway operators, and port equipment suppliers.
Ethiopia Summit (Feb. 4-5, Addis, Ethiopia) The Summit will draw more than 150 senior experts from a variety of industry sectors to discuss growth opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia. Panelists will discuss issues including: Is the state-led development model sustainable? What are the challenges faced by the private sector? Can the country avoid the pitfalls of other countries?
2015 SAVCA Private Equity Industry Conference (Feb. 12-13, Stellenbosch, South Africa) Hosted by the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), the theme is “Investing for Growth, Investing for Good.” This conference brings together private equity players, business leaders, institutional investors and advisors from the Southern African region and beyond. The conference will explore opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Bonds & Loans Africa 2015 (March 27-30, Cape Town) Focusing on the full range of debt products offered by African governments, banks and companies, this conference draws more than 450 local and international banks, borrowers, investors and financial service providers from across the continent to network and secure new investment.
4th Africa Insurance & Reinsurance Conference (June 23-24, Nairobi) This event will keep you up to date with the latest industry developments, marketing strategies, new technologies and product innovations relevant to the African insurance market.
BankingTech Africa 2015 (July 7-8, Johannesburg) BankingTech returns to Johannesburg to bring Africa’s banks together with leading technology vendors from around the world and offers opportunities to discuss new approaches and business models to Africa banking.
Nigeria Investment Forum 2015 (July 7-8, Abuja, Nigeria) This forum will provide local and international investors, companies, entrepreneurs, business leaders and policy makers an opportunity to access investment insights, share market analytics and learn about current project development opportunities for Nigeria.
Africa Business, Economic & Finance Conference 2015 (Dec. 2-3, Abuja, Nigeria) Targeting the financial sector in Africa, this annual conference is where financial practitioners, business leaders, government officials, investors and entrepreneurs will gather for interactive sessions and panels to share perspectives and strategies for developing and investing in Nigeria’s continuing growth.
3rd annual Africa Healthcare Summit 2015 (Feb. 26-27, London) With the Ebola crisis affecting the entire world, this European-based healthcare conference is especially relevant. An expected 300 ministers of health are expected to participate, along with senior hospital directors and healthcare professionals coming to network with international healthcare experts, investors and companies looking to enter the African health sector.
East Africa Energy Infrastructure Security Forum (Feb. 4-5, Nairobi) Recent security threats to the booming oil and gas industry of East Africa are the focus of this conference where delegates can share intelligence with relevant governmental bodies on how to secure ports and offshore assets, prevent pipeline sabotage and select security systems to match their particular needs.
Africa-Australia Infrastructure Conference 2015 (March 5-6, Victoria, Australia) This conference will highlight the emerging infrastructure development and business opportunities in Africa’s energy, ICT and telecoms, mining infrastructure, agribusiness, water and sanitation technology and transport sectors to the Australian business community. The event attracts key stakeholders such as Macquarie Bank, Worley Parsons, Engineers Australia, Cardno, Johnstaff, Snowy Mountains Engineering Corp., and Export Council of Australia.
Zambia International Water & Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition (March 19-20, Lusaka, Zambia) This conference will address the challenges of water resource management and infrastructure development in Zambia and explore how public and private finance can be harnessed by bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, installers and water and waste management private and public professionals.
Africa Infrastructure, Transport & Real Estate Conference 2015 (Oct. 21-22, Abuja, Nigeria) This conference on infrastructure and real estate development in Africa will create a platform for sharing insights, perspectives and leading practices amongst participants, allowing them to discuss key growth opportunities and challenges affecting industries and businesses in the region.
Meetings Africa (Feb. 23-25, Johannesburg) Hosted by the South Africa National Convention Bureau, this conference allows African associations and African meetings industry professionals to meet with international and local buyers in the business events industry, including Sun International, the Blue Train, CSIR International Convention Centre, Botswana Tourism Organization, Kempinski Kenya, Kenyatta International Convention Centre and Mozambique Tourism.
17th Africa Business Conference at Harvard Business School (Feb. 27 – March 1, Boston) The event and gala dinner is the world’s largest student-run conference focused on business in Africa, bringing together speakers, expert panelists, and nearly 1,500 passionate students and professionals from across the globe to discuss and debate important African business and leadership topics. This year’s theme, “A More Inclusive Africa: the Pursuit of Progress for All,” seeks to inspire conversations that drive actions and identify opportunities and innovative solutions.
Corporate Social Responsibility Mozambique Conference and Exhibition (March 19-20, Maputo, Mozambique) The inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Mozambique Conference and Exhibition is the first event dedicated to analyzing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a first step towards building a thriving CSR culture in Mozambique, which still faces challenges of poverty, healthcare and development of rural areas despite an average economic growth rate of 7 percent over the past 10 years.
Shaping Our Future Conference, Zambia 2015 (March 30-31, Lusaka, Zambia) This annual conference is designed for entrepreneurs and businesses leaders to address sustainable economic development in Zambia that will facilitate financial growth and create employment opportunities.
Nigeria Business Conference 2015 (April 15-16, Lagos, Nigeria) This is a gathering where business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, government officials and companies will discuss creating jobs, enhancing industrial competitiveness and accessing financing while fostering private sector development and growth in Nigeria.
14th London Business School Africa Business Summit (April 25, London) Now in its 14th year, the Africa Business Summit has become a leading forum in Europe for discussing doing business in Africa. Each year it brings together 300 delegates with an active interest in Africa, providing an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.
Nigeria National Business & Enterprise Conference (May 6-7, Abuja, Nigeria) This two-day conference is a forum for government representatives, entrepreneurs, companies, institutional investors and business leaders to debate ideas on how to drive competitiveness and foster sustainable economic growth in the region.
World Economic Forum on Africa 2015 (June 3-5, Cape Town) In 2015, the World Economic Forum on Africa will mark 25 years in Africa. Under the theme, “Then and Now: Re-imagining Africa’s Future,” the Forum on Africa will convene regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to share innovative approaches to accelerate inclusive growth and sustainable development.
U.S. Commerce Dept. Trade Winds-Africa (Sept. 16-18, Johannesburg) The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service is offering U.S. companies the opportunity to explore eight markets in Sub-Saharan Africa starting with a business forum in South Africa. This trade mission will feature region and industry-specific conference sessions as well as pre-arranged consultations with U.S. diplomats representing commercial markets in 19 countries. There will also be multiple trade mission stops where participants can conduct business-to-business meetings with pre-screened firms in Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania, and 13 U.S. Embassies in Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zambia.
Nigeria Annual Enterprise Conference & Awards (Nov. 19-20, Abuja, Nigeria) The 2015 Nigeria Annual Enterprise Conference and Awards will focus on the economic, financing, operational excellence and market factors driving Nigerian enterprises, small businesses and entrepreneurs.