USAFRICA BUSINESS WEEK® 2026

Program at a Glance

A day designed to move from market intelligence to commercial opportunity, strategic relationships and deal execution.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 320 Park Avenue, New York City UNGA High-Level Week

Program is subject to change. Additional speakers, government leaders and institutional participants will be announced as confirmed.

ONE DAY. A CLEAR PATH TO OPPORTUNITY.

KNOW → DISCOVER → HEAR → MEET → ACT

KNOW Understand where Africa's economy is heading.

DISCOVER Identify markets, sectors and commercial opportunities.

HEAR Learn directly from policymakers, investors and business leaders.

MEET Connect through curated introductions and the Deal Room.

ACT Move conversations toward partnerships, investment and transactions.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Explore the Program

USAFRICA Business Week® brings market intelligence, government and business leaders, institutional capital, exporters and market-access partners into one curated environment.

MORNING — UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS

9:30 AM–12:20 PM

9:30–10:00 AM

GATEWAY NETWORKING

Registration, curated introductions and strategic networking.

10:00–10:10 AM

WELCOME TO THE GATEWAY

Opening remarks and framing for the day.

Gbenga Omotayo — Executive Director, USAFRICA®

10:10–10:30 AM

AFRICA ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Where Africa's Economy Is Heading

Growth, capital, investment and the markets shaping Africa's next economic cycle.

Featured speaker to be announced.

10:30–10:45 AM

THE AFRICA OPPORTUNITY MAP

Where Growth, Capital & Trade Are Moving

A market-intelligence briefing translating macro trends into sectors, markets and commercial entry points.

Featured speaker to be announced.

10:45–11:10 AM

THE NEW U.S.–AFRICA TRADE RELATIONSHIP

From Policy to Commercial Execution

How policy, export development and market access can translate into measurable commercial activity.

O. Felix Obi, MPM — U.S. Trade Policy

Additional leaders to be announced.

11:10–11:35 AM

REGIONAL GROWTH HUB

Markets to Watch

A rapid look at emerging markets, investment priorities and regional opportunities.

Dr. Mariam Temitope Masha

11:35 AM–12:00 PM

CAPITAL & TRADE FINANCE

Financing the U.S.–Africa Opportunity

Trade finance, export finance, cross-border banking and institutional capital.

Ian Greenstreet — CEO, Ghana International Bank LaTaunya Darden — Export-Import Bank of the United States

12:00–12:10 PM

BEYOND THE GAME

Africa's Next Consumer Growth Market

Clare Akamanzi — CEO, NBA Africa

12:10–12:20 PM

OPPORTUNITY BOARD

What Is Looking for Capital, Buyers or Partners?

Rapid opportunity announcements from governments, businesses, exporters and investors.

MIDDAY — MEET & DO BUSINESS

12:20–1:35 PM

12:20–1:05 PM

CURATED NETWORKING LUNCH + DEAL ROOM

Curated introductions, bilateral meetings and focused business conversations.

Gbenga Omotayo — Export & Prosper Vincent J. Vicari — U.S.–Africa Franchising Opportunities

1:05–1:25 PM

THE GOVERNORS' INVESTMENT DESK

What's Investable Now?

A focused conversation with government leaders on bankable projects and immediate investment priorities.

Participating governors to be announced as confirmed.

1:25–1:35 PM

INVESTING IN ABUJA

Building Africa's Next-Generation Capital City

Infrastructure, urban development and investment opportunity.

AFTERNOON — SECTORS, CAPITAL & OPPORTUNITIES

1:35–4:00 PM

1:35–2:20 PM

NIGERIA INNOVATION & INDUSTRY

From Innovation to Industry

Turning science, technology and innovation into industrial growth, investment and commercial opportunity.

Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN — Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Nigeria

Additional ministry and agency leaders to be announced.

2:20–2:40 PM

THE NEXT GROWTH ECONOMY

AI • Digital Infrastructure • Payments

The infrastructure Africa must build next to enable commerce, productivity and scalable economic growth.

Tunde Agboke — HP Foundation / HP Inc. Seyi Ebenezer — Founder & CEO, Payaza Africa

Additional technology leaders to be announced.

2:40–3:05 PM

AFRICA'S AGRIBUSINESS, FOOD SYSTEMS & BLUE ECONOMY

From Production to Processing, Markets & Investment

Connecting production, value addition, finance, market access and global distribution.

Akindele Akinyemi — GABA Marketplace Center

Additional agribusiness and market-access leaders to be announced.

3:05–3:30 PM

THE INDUSTRIAL AFRICA CONVERSATION

Critical Minerals • Energy • Infrastructure

What it takes to turn strategic African projects into investable, bankable transactions.

Alexandra Esmel — Bird & Bird Don Christensen — Executive Chairman, InvestBank Corp.

3:30–3:40 PM

THE INVESTMENT INTERVIEW

Where Would You Put $100 Million in Africa Today?

A focused conversation with an institutional investor on where capital is moving and why.

Featured investor to be announced.

3:40–3:50 PM

OPPORTUNITY SPOTLIGHTS

Short enterprise and institutional opportunity presentations.

3:50–4:00 PM

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Deals • Introductions • Opportunities • Announcements

A closing focused on next actions, follow-up and turning conversations into outcomes.

Gbenga Omotayo Karen L. Booker

THE GATEWAY RECEPTION

4:00–5:00 PM

USAFRICA DEAL-MAKING RECEPTION

Continue conversations, complete introductions and pursue follow-up meetings with delegates, investors, government leaders and business executives.

Discover the Markets. Meet the Decision-Makers. Do the Business.

Join USAFRICA Business Week® 2026 during UNGA High-Level Week in New York City.

APPLY TO ATTEND

YOUR GATEWAY

TO REGIONAL TRADE IN AFRICA

A curated UNGA High-Level gathering of government leaders, investors, CEOs, trade executives and entrepreneurs connecting opportunities across Africa with U.S. and global markets.

New York | September 23, 2026

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About USAFRICA Business Week®

USAFRICA Business Week® is designed as a curated gateway to regional trade, guiding participants into the right African markets through insights, structured engagement, strategic dialogue, and deal execution.

For over eight years, UBW has operated as a high-level convening platform advancing trade and investment between Africa and the United States connecting opportunity with capital and engagement with execution.

Building on the success of previous editions which have facilitated over $2 billion in deal engagement and convened governors, ministers, heads of agencies, senior officials, and business leaders, USAFRICA Business Week continues to provide a focused platform for high-level engagement and deal-making.

UNGA High-Level Week - Sept. 23, 2026

The New York convening remains the flagship USAfrica Business Week platform, held during UNGA in NYC, bringing together ministers, investors, corporate leaders, and diaspora executives for focused engagement on trade, capital, and partnerships. UBW convenes a curated group of stakeholders aligned around opportunity and execution.