Kenya has secured a major global trade coup after organisers of Gulfood, the world’s most influential food and beverage sourcing platform, announced the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, set to debut in Nairobi from May 4 to 6, 2027.
The announcement, made Wednesday at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, formally positions Kenya as the official African host of the platform, cementing the country’s status as Africa’s primary gateway to the global food, agribusiness, logistics and innovation economy.
The expansion comes as Africa’s food economy is projected to reach $567.31 billion (about Sh73trillion) by 2032, driven by population growth, urbanisation, rising incomes and demand for value-added food products.
Organisers say the Nairobi event will connect global buyers directly with Africa’s fastest-scaling food supply base through a single, trusted trade hub.
The initiative is being rolled out under the joint endorsement of the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology, and is anchored in the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Speaking at the announcement, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the decision reflects Kenya’s growing role in global trade and investment flows.
“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 mobilising its full value chain for global trade,” Kinyanjui said.
Kenya, he said, is positioning itself as Africa’s gateway, connecting farms, factories and supply corridors to the world.
The Nairobi fair is also closely aligned with President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places agriculture, manufacturing, trade, logistics and technology at the centre of Kenya’s economic growth strategy.
Organisers say Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya will act as a catalytic platform to accelerate agricultural value addition, export competitiveness, agro-industrialisation, SME participation and industrial growth, while drawing in foreign direct investment across the food value chain.
Kenya’s selection as host is underpinned by major investments in infrastructure and logistics, including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), upgrades to regional airports, the modernisation of the Port of Mombasa, and the development of multimodal trade corridors linking Eastern and Central Africa.
These investments are being supported through President Ruto’s Infrastructure Fund, which targets long-term capital for transport networks, industrial parks, cold-chain systems and export-oriented manufacturing, all critical for a competitive agrifood ecosystem.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the platform would help translate Kenya’s agricultural strength into global opportunity.
“Agriculture sits at the heart of Kenya’s economy, contributing over a quarter of our GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods across the country,” Kagwe said.
He stated that Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya reflects “Kenya’s commitment to converting agricultural strength into global opportunity, connecting Kenyan and African producers with the rest of the world”.
Kenya’s leadership in renewable energy and climate-smart development was also highlighted as a key advantage.
More than 90 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated from clean sources, following heavy investment in geothermal, wind, solar and hydro power under the government’s 10,000MW clean energy programme.
This, officials say, gives agribusiness, manufacturing and logistics investors access to reliable, low-cost and low-carbon energy at a time when sustainability and ESG standards are increasingly shaping global trade decisions.
Beyond agriculture, Kenya’s reputation as Africa’s Silicon Savannah is expected to feature prominently at the event.
The country is a regional leader in digital payments, logistics technology, climate-smart agriculture, artificial intelligence and supply-chain digitisation, driven by a youthful and tech-savvy population.
Gulfood global organiser Trixie LohMirmand said Kenya was uniquely positioned to anchor Africa’s entry into global food markets.
“Kenya is built for global competitiveness, and Africa is at its inflection point,” LohMirmand said.
“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.”
The announcement follows Kenya’s successful hosting of AI Everything x GITEX Kenya, scheduled for May 2026, reinforcing Nairobi’s growing profile as a continental hub for global trade, technology and innovation diplomacy.
Organisers say that from Nairobi, global contracts will be executed, capital mobilised and cross-border value chains activated, translating international demand into lasting opportunities for farmers, processors and manufacturers across Africa.
With Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, Nairobi is set to become the focal point where Africa’s farms, factories and future food systems meet the world.
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