BY WISDOM SIGEN OUMA | 5484 MEDIA | NAIROBI
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Kenya chosen to host Gulfood360 Africa, a major global food and agribusiness platform
- Event expected to position Nairobi as Africa’s gateway to global food trade and investment
- Move aligns with President Ruto’s economic strategy and Kenya–UAE trade partnership
Kenya is positioning itself as a continental powerhouse for agribusiness investment, with the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya expected to channel billions of dollars into agriculture, food processing and trade across the region.
The inaugural edition of the global food and beverage sourcing platform will be held in Nairobi from 4 to 6 May next year, marking the first time the influential Gulfood brand expands into Africa.
The announcement was made during Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, cementing Kenya’s role as the official African host and underlining its ambition to become the go-to gateway for global food and agribusiness trade into the continent.
Kenya named Africa’s Gulfood hub
Gulfood, widely regarded as the world’s most influential food and beverage sourcing platform, said the expansion reflects Africa’s growing role in global food supply chains — and Kenya’s strategic position at the centre of it.
The move places Nairobi at the heart of a global ecosystem connecting food producers, logistics players, investors and technology firms, while strengthening trade links between Africa, the Middle East and international markets.
Kenya’s selection was endorsed jointly by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology.
The initiative is also rooted in the Kenya–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), highlighting growing economic ties between the two countries.
Backing Ruto’s economic agenda
The launch comes as President William Ruto pushes to transform Kenya into a high-income economy under his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the platform signalled a turning point in Kenya’s global trade ambitions.
“The launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya signals a decisive step in Kenya’s trade and investment journey,” he said.
“Kenya is positioning itself as Africa’s gateway — connecting farms, factories and supply corridors to the world.”
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the event would help turn Kenya’s agricultural strength into global opportunity.
“Agriculture contributes over a quarter of our GDP and supports millions of livelihoods,” he said.
“Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya reflects our commitment to linking Kenyan and African producers with global markets.”
Infrastructure and trade corridors
Kenya’s pitch as a global agribusiness hub is backed by major investment in infrastructure, including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, upgrades to regional airports, modernisation of the Port of Mombasa, and new multimodal trade corridors across Eastern and Central Africa.
These efforts are being supported through President Ruto’s Infrastructure Fund, aimed at attracting long-term capital for logistics, industrial parks, cold-chain systems and export-oriented manufacturing.
Officials say these projects are critical for building a globally competitive agrifood ecosystem.
Gateway to Africa’s food economy
Sub-Saharan Africa holds more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, while Kenya sits at the heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — a single market of over 1.4 billion people.
As a leading exporter of tea, coffee, horticulture, livestock and processed foods, Kenya offers global firms a strategic base to scale operations across Africa’s fast-growing food economy, projected to reach $567bn by 2032.
Technology and the ‘Silicon Savannah’
Beyond farming and trade, Kenya’s reputation as Africa’s “Silicon Savannah” is set to play a major role in shaping the platform.
The country is already a hub for digital payments, logistics technology, climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence and supply-chain digitisation.
Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo said Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya would place innovation at the heart of food security and industrialisation.
“This firmly establishes Kenya as Africa’s premier platform for global trade and technology diplomacy,” he said, pointing to Kenya also hosting AI Everything x GITEX in May 2026.
A continental trade gateway
Gulfood organisers say the Nairobi platform will give global buyers direct access to Africa’s fastest-growing food supply base through a single, trusted gateway.
Trixie LohMirmand, Global Organiser of Gulfood, said the expansion marked a new chapter for Africa’s food economy.
“Africa is at its inflection point, and Kenya is leading that charge,” she said.
“From Nairobi, contracts will be signed, capital deployed and value chains activated at scale.”
As Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya prepares to debut, Kenya is betting that global trade, technology and agribusiness investment can converge in Nairobi — positioning the country not just as a regional leader, but as Africa’s bridge to the world.
