More than 140 of Africa's top business leaders, policymakers and global investors are gathering in Cape Town this week with a single, urgent question in mind: how to scale African businesses and unlock intra-continental trade in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
The two-day Africa Unlocked 2026 conference, hosted by Standard Bank at the Norval Foundation on 9–10 July, comes at a critical moment.
As global supply chains shift and geopolitical tensions disrupt traditional markets, implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is taking centre stage as both an economic shield and a growth engine for the continent.
From potential to scale Now in its third year, the summit has moved beyond high-level theory to focus on practical execution. Under the theme "Built in Africa: Amplifying Continental Growth," attendees are examining how mid-sized local companies can grow into pan-African champions.
"Across the continent, we are seeing businesses expanding into new markets, entrepreneurs scaling with confidence, and investment supporting infrastructure, industrialisation and innovation," said Sim Tshabalala, chief executive of Standard Bank Group.
He said the next phase of Africa's economic resilience will depend on deepening regional integration and funding the productive economy — pointing to finance as one of the continent's most persistent bottlenecks to expansion.
The summit will tackle this directly, exploring the "architecture of African capital" and how to blend domestic funds with international finance to bankroll large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects.
AI and energy in focus The agenda also reflects a shift in how African executives view technology and sustainability.
Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a distant prospect, a dedicated track — "AI in the Engine Room" — will look at how heavy industry, logistics and agriculture are already using AI to close productivity gaps and compete globally.