Tuesday, 13 January

APN announces launch of Project Afrique

News
Project Afrique

The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has announced the launch of Projet Afrique, a major exhibition set to headline the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2026, scheduled for February 4–6, 2026, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The landmark exhibition will celebrate African innovation, creativity and enterprise within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with a strong focus on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women and youth across the continent.

Aligned with the APD 2026 theme, “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa's Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade.”, Projet Afrique is designed as a dynamic platform to showcase Africa’s economic transformation and industrial potential.

The exhibition will spotlight four key sectors: Creative Arts, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, and the Automobile Industry.

According to APN, women, youth and SMEs form the backbone of Africa’s economy but continue to face structural and financial barriers that limit their participation in cross-border trade.

Projet Afrique aims to bridge this gap by providing an unprecedented opportunity for these groups to showcase their products, innovations and business models to investors, policymakers and consumers from across Africa and beyond.

The Creative Arts segment will highlight Africa’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary creativity, ranging from traditional Ghanaian kente weaving to modern design, demonstrating how culture can serve as a powerful export and identity driver. The Engineering and Technology showcase will feature innovations in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, renewable energy and software development by young African tech entrepreneurs.

In the Agriculture sector, the exhibition will present modern and sustainable farming practices, including advanced machinery, agro-processing innovations and climate-smart technologies aimed at enhancing food security and competitiveness.

The Automobile Industry showcase will focus on Africa’s growing capabilities in vehicle design and manufacturing, with particular emphasis on electric and hybrid models that signal the continent’s commitment to green mobility.

Describing the initiative as more than just an exhibition, APN said Projet Afrique will serve as a marketplace of ideas, enterprise and opportunity, translating AfCFTA principles into practical outcomes.

The event is expected to accelerate industrialisation, stimulate intra-African trade and support the creation of sustainable livelihoods.

As part of preparations, the Africa Prosperity Network has issued a call for exhibitors, inviting innovators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, women-led businesses and youth enterprises from across the continent to participate.

Interested exhibitors are encouraged to register online via the Projet Afrique platform.

Commenting on the initiative, APN Chief Executive Officer, Sidig Eltoum, said Africa’s future prosperity depends on the creativity and productivity of its women, youth and SMEs.

He noted that Projet Afrique will demonstrate how inclusive participation can drive the continent’s transformation and unlock opportunities across Africa’s single market.

Projet Afrique is expected to be a major highlight of APD 2026, reinforcing Ghana’s role as a hub for dialogue, innovation and continental economic integration under the AfCFTA framework.

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah