The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), together with private-sector stakeholders, held an engagement session with members of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) on Wednesday to discuss expectations and preparations for the upcoming Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit, scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre.
The summit, one of Africa’s leading platforms for high-level business dialogue and deal-making, is expected to bring together more than 2,000 chief executives, investors, policymakers and heads of state from over 75 countries.
Speaking during the engagement session, RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said the forum presents a rare opportunity for Rwandan businesses to directly engage with leading African and global investors, financiers and decision-makers in one place.
“For Rwandan firms, the value of the forum is practical and immediate. It offers a rare opportunity to meet potential investors, identify strategic partners, open new commercial partnerships, and present concrete projects or expansion plans to decision-makers who are otherwise difficult to access in a single setting,” he said.
Afrika noted that the forum goes beyond networking, providing businesses with a chance to benchmark themselves against leading firms across the continent, understand where capital is moving, and sharpen their growth ambitions.
He also highlighted the event’s advanced matchmaking technology, which allows registered participants to access profiles of investors, policymakers and financiers before the summit and request one-on-one meetings.
“They have coupled the forum with sophisticated matchmaking technology that suggests people who could be of interest to your business,” he said, urging businesses to register early and approach the event with clear targets and defined business goals.
“This is not a platform to attend passively. Firms should come prepared with clear objectives, targeted meetings, and a strong sense of what partnerships, capital, market access or commercial opportunities they want to pursue.”
This will be the third time Rwanda hosts the Africa CEO Forum, reinforcing Kigali’s growing role as a regional hub for investment, conferencing, tourism and business diplomacy.
Afrika said the organisers’ decision to return to Kigali reflects confidence in Rwanda’s logistics capacity and ability to host major continental events.
“This event is happening in Kigali for the third time because the organisers trust our ability, our logistics capabilities, and our ability to organise events of this scale,” he said.
He noted that Rwanda has sufficient conferencing and hospitality capacity and that authorities are closely monitoring registrations and visitor arrivals to ensure a smooth experience for delegates.
The 2026 summit will be held under the theme, “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” with discussions expected to focus on business expansion, cross-border investment and regional integration.
The agenda will centre on three priorities: shared equity to promote multinational African firms, shared infrastructure to strengthen regional value chains, and shared frameworks aimed at harmonising regulations and standards across borders.
PSF urges businesses to prepare
Private Sector Federation Chairperson François Twagirumukiza said the forum, co-organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), offers a strategic gateway for Rwandan businesses to move from ambition to execution.
“This forum matters because it provides a powerful gateway to new partners, new suppliers, new clients and new technologies. It connects our businesses to the networks and capabilities they need to grow significantly and compete,” he said.
He urged businesses to approach the summit with intent by identifying the partners they want to meet and booking meetings in advance.
“The value you derive will depend on the level of preparation you put in,” he said.
Businesses share past gains
Several business leaders shared testimonies of how previous editions of the Africa CEO Forum created tangible results for their companies.
Fabrice Shema, CEO and founder of Africa Medical Supplier Ltd, said attending the 2019 forum in Kigali helped him secure a $5 million in financing from a private investment fund without collateral requirements.
“I attended Africa CEO Forum 2019 here in Rwanda and it brought significant opportunities. I was able to connect with an institution that helped me secure $5 million in financing without providing collateral,” he revealed, adding, “That alone was a major milestone and gives us confidence that the 2026 edition will deliver even greater value.”
Julie Mutoni, Deputy Group CEO of Multilines International, said the last forum helped her logistics company secure new international partners and business leads that continue to support operations today.
“Through networking, I managed to get partners that I’m still working with today. In countries where I could not even reach, I was able to reach there through partnerships,” she said.
For the 2026 edition, Mutoni said she is targeting more logistics partners across global markets as well as potential financing opportunities to expand and diversify her business.
“I’ll be looking at getting more partners, and depending on who is attending, I may also look for funding to expand my business. I’m just going to keep my eyes open and ensure that I grab the opportunities,” she said.
With President Paul Kagame, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several other African leaders expected to attend, the Africa CEO Forum 2026 is expected to position Rwanda’s private sector at the centre of some of the continent’s most important investment conversations.
For many businesses, the goal is to turn two days of meetings in Kigali into partnerships and deals that last well beyond the summit itself.
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