Cape Town

Access Bank Plc (www.AccessBankPLC.com) is proud to announce the distinguished line-up of speakers for the second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), scheduled to take place on March 11, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. Building on the strong foundation of its inaugural edition, ATC 2026 will convene an exceptional assembly of global and African leaders, policymakers, investors, and business executives committed to shaping the future of trade on the continent.

The Africa Trade Conference has rapidly emerged as a premier platform for advancing dialogue and action around Africa's evolving role in global commerce. The 2026 edition will feature influential voices from across finance, government, development institutions, and the private sector, who will share insights on unlocking trade opportunities, strengthening intra-African commerce, enabling business expansion, and positioning African enterprises for global competitiveness.

The confirmed speakers represent a powerful cross-section of leaders driving Africa's economic transformation.

Building on the momentum of its maiden edition, which convened senior decision-makers from 28 countries, the 2026 conference with the theme “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa's Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact”, will have the keynote address delivered by Kennedy Mbekeani, Director General, Southern Africa Region, African Development Bank (AfDB), alongside Kwabena Ayirebi, Managing Director, Banking Operations at the African Export-Import Bank. Their joint keynote will address the evolving financing landscape for African trade and the strategic pathways for unlocking continental prosperity. 

The welcome address will be delivered by Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO/GMD, Access Bank Plc, who will set the tone for discussions centered on trade transformation, financial inclusion, and regional competitiveness, while Tolu Oyekan, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group, will deliver insights on “Africa Trade Outlook 2026”, examining emerging macroeconomic trends, supply chain shifts, and growth opportunities across key sectors.  The CEO of Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, Mike Ogbalu, will be engaging the conference participants on the topic, “Building a Connected Africa Through Trade, Payments & Technology”, focusing on how payment interoperability and digital infrastructure can accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

The conference will also host a High-Level Ministerial Panel that features Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Ghana; Tiroeaone Ntsima, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Botswana; Mr. Florian Witt, Divisional Head, International & Corporate Banking Oddo-BHF, Ms. Nathalie Louat – Global Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dr Isaiah Rathumba – Head of Department, Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and Mr. Alfred Idialu – Chief Rep Officer, Deutsche Bank among other policymakers shaping trade policy across the continent.

Commenting on the announcement, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, said:
“The Africa Trade Conference reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing Africa's economic transformation by creating a platform that brings together the leaders, institutions, and ideas shaping the future of trade. The calibre of speakers confirmed for this year's conference underscores the urgency and opportunity before us. Africa is not only participating in global trade, it is helping to redefine it. Through this convening, we aim to catalyse partnerships, unlock new opportunities for businesses, and accelerate Africa's integration into global value chains.”

“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.”

With operations in 24 countries globally, including 16 across Africa, Access Bank's expansive footprint places it in a unique position to facilitate cross-border trade, unlock 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 added.

ATC 2026 is expected to catalyze partnerships, enable policy dialogue, and provide actionable strategies for businesses operating within and beyond the continent.

The Access Bank Chief puts it thus, “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.”

For more information and registration, please visit https://apo-opa.co/4sdXWF7

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Access Bank PLC.

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As South Africa accelerates the expansion of its critical minerals sector - including plans to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in iron reserves - skills development has become a cornerstone of its long-term growth strategy. By targeting R2 trillion in investment over the next five years, the country recognizes that a well-trained workforce not only drives operational efficiency but also strengthens investor confidence, positioning South Africa as a globally competitive hub for critical mineral investment.

Skills Development and National Critical Minerals Strategy

Enhancing skills development supports South Africa's broader agenda of increasing employment opportunities and strengthening economic resilience, while channeling mineral wealth into local industrialization. The country aims to tackle youth unemployment by creating opportunities for 1.8 million young people by 2030. As one of South Africa's largest employers, supporting nearly 900,000 jobs, the mining sector plays a critical role in achieving this goal.

In his February 2026 State of the Nation Address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the expansion of public employment programs, including the Community Work Program and Presidential Employment Stimulus, to provide skills development and employment for youth and women. “For too many people, life remains hard. Jobs are scarce and opportunity is out of reach,” stated Ramaphosa.

The expansion of these initiatives and the country's 2030 youth employment target align closely with South Africa's critical minerals strategy, which prioritizes human capital development as a key enabler of industrial growth and energy transition objectives.

International Research Collaboration Strengthens Long-Term Skills Ecosystem

A major boost to workforce development in critical minerals was announced in mid-February through a partnership between the European Union (EU) and South Africa's Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The initiative includes €2 million in funding from the EU to establish a dedicated platform to strengthen skills development and research and workforce readiness across the critical minerals and battery value chain.

Part of the EU's broader Clean Trade and Investment Partnership, under which €15.5 billion has been committed to strengthening South Africa's critical minerals sector, the skills initiative aims to:

• Expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutional capacity
• Provide specialized training aligned with battery minerals, refining and recycling
• Facilitate internships and Work-Integrated Learning placements with industry partners
• Create employment pathways for graduates entering critical mineral industries

Complementing government and multilateral initiatives, private sector players are also investing in workforce development. In mid-February, mining major Anglo American announced plans to establish a Global Institute of Critical Minerals Research, bringing together universities and research institutions from South Africa, the UK and other global mining hubs.

“We want to contribute to South Africa's agenda of empowering the next generation of miners while unlocking the country's full mining potential,” stated Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad

With South Africa leading in terms of global production of platinum group metals, manganese and chrome – and now seeking to unlock its untapped iron ore potential - strategic skills development initiatives will strengthen the country's position in the evolving critical minerals space.

African Mining Week 2026: Driving Collaboration and Investment

Against this backdrop, the upcoming African Mining Week conference, scheduled for October 14–16 in Cape Town, is set to play a key role in advancing dialogue on workforce readiness, investment and strategic partnerships. The event will convene policymakers, mining companies, academic institutions and global investors to assess Africa's preparedness to meet rapidly growing global demand for critical minerals, which is projected to quadruple by 2040.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.