Kenya is set to host the inaugural Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya in Nairobi from May 4 to 6, 2027, marking a major step in the country’s bid to position itself as Africa’s leading hub for agribusiness investment and global food trade.
The announcement was made at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, formalising Kenya’s selection as the official African host of Gulfood, the world’s most influential food and beverage sourcing platform. The move positions Kenya as Africa’s principal gateway into the global food, agribusiness, logistics and innovation economy.
Launched under the joint endorsement of 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 represents a strategic partnership between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, anchored in the Kenya–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The event aligns with President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to transform Kenya into a first-world economy through trade expansion, industrialisation and value addition.
Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the launch signals 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. Anchored by the Kenya–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and supported by structural reforms, this moment reflects a country mobilizing its full value chain for global trade. Kenya is positioning itself as Africa’s gateway connecting farms, factories, and supply corridors to the world,” Kinyanjui said.
Agriculture, manufacturing, trade, logistics and technology are central to the platform’s focus. Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya is expected to accelerate agricultural value addition, agro-industrialisation, SME participation, export competitiveness and industrial growth, while strengthening Kenya’s role as a regional trade hub.
Kenya’s selection is supported by ongoing investments in infrastructure and logistics, including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, upgrades to regional airports, modernisation of the Port of Mombasa, and the development of multimodal trade corridors linking Eastern and Central Africa. These projects are backed by President Ruto’s Infrastructure Fund, which targets long-term financing for transport, cold-chain systems, industrial parks and export-oriented manufacturing.
The country also occupies a strategic position within Africa’s agrifood economy. Sub-Saharan Africa holds more than 60 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land. At the same time, Kenya serves as a key entry point into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a market of over 1.4 billion people. As a major producer and exporter of tea, coffee, horticulture, livestock, and processed foods, Kenya offers global firms access to scalable, resilient supply chains. Africa’s food economy is projected to reach $567.31 billion by 2032.
Beyond agriculture, Kenya is widely recognised as Africa’s Silicon Savannah, with strengths in digital payments, logistics technology, climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence and supply-chain digitisation.
Special Envoy on Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo said innovation will be a key pillar of the platform.
“Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya is a strategic expression of Kenya’s commitment to food security, green industrialization and inclusive growth through technology. Together with hosting AI Everything x GITEX from 19–21 May 2026 in Kenya, this firmly establishes Kenya as Africa’s premier platform for global trade and technology diplomacy, where contracts are signed, capital is deployed, and continental value chains are activated at scale,” Thigo said.
Kenya’s youthful and tech-savvy population is expected to play a central role, with the event showcasing AI-driven agritech, digital trade platforms, smart logistics and climate intelligence aimed at improving traceability, reducing food loss, enhancing farmer incomes and building resilient supply chains.
Trixie LohMirmand, Global Organiser of Gulfood, said the expansion reflects Africa’s growing competitiveness in the global food economy.
“Kenya is built for global competitiveness, and Africa is at its inflection point. Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya positions the country as the conduit through which African produce and value flow into international markets. This expansion sends a clear signal that Africa’s food economy is entering a new phase of scale, execution, and competitiveness — and Kenya is leading that charge,” she said.
The platform is expected to give global buyers direct access to Africa’s fastest-growing food supply base through a single trade gateway, with Nairobi serving as a centre for contract execution, capital mobilisation and cross-border value chain development.
The journey toward hosting the event formally commenced with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Agriculture and Food Authority and Gulfood. AFA Director General Dr Bruno Linyiru and Trixie LohMirmand, Global Organiser of Gulfood, signed the agreement, marking the first step toward actualising Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya.
