Gulfood’s expansion into Africa marks a turning point as Nairobi prepares to host Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, positioning Kenya as the continent’s gateway to global food trade….reports Asian Lite News
Gulfood, the world’s most influential food and beverage sourcing platform, will make its first major expansion into Africa with the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, scheduled to debut in Nairobi from 4 to 6 May 2027. The move marks a strategic milestone for both the global food industry and the continent’s rapidly growing agribusiness economy, positioning Kenya as Africa’s primary gateway into global food, trade and logistics networks.
The announcement was made at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, where organisers confirmed Kenya’s selection as the official African host of the Gulfood platform. The decision elevates Nairobi into a central role within global food sourcing, processing, logistics and innovation, while reinforcing the deepening economic partnership between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates.
Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya has been launched under the unified endorsement of Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Agriculture and Food Authority, and the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology. The initiative is anchored in the Kenya–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has provided a framework for accelerating trade, investment and private-sector collaboration between the two countries.
Kenya positions itself as gateway
The new platform is designed to fast-track trade flows, attract foreign direct investment and strengthen regional value chains by connecting African producers directly with global buyers. Unlike traditional exhibitions, Gulfood360 is conceived as a year-round trade ecosystem, enabling contract execution, capital mobilisation and cross-border partnerships through a single, trusted gateway.
Kenyan officials said the launch reflects the country’s ambition to mobilise its entire agrifood value chain for global trade. Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, described the move as a decisive step in Kenya’s economic transformation, linking farms, factories and supply corridors directly to international markets and reinforcing Kenya’s role as a trade anchor for the region.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing more than a quarter of national GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, said Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya would help convert that agricultural strength into long-term global opportunity by connecting African producers with new markets, technology and capital at scale.
Infrastructure, sustainability and scale drive selection
Kenya’s selection as host country was underpinned by major investments in logistics, transport and trade infrastructure. These include 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. Together, these assets position Kenya as a natural hub for continental and international food trade.
Equally significant is Kenya’s leadership in sustainable development. More than 90 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated from clean energy, offering investors reliable, low-cost and low-carbon power at a time when environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards increasingly shape global supply chains. This green advantage gives Kenya a competitive edge for agribusiness, manufacturing and logistics operations seeking sustainable growth.
Trixie LohMirmand, Global Organiser of Gulfood, said the expansion reflects Africa’s arrival at a turning point. She noted that Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya will position Nairobi as the conduit through which African produce and value move into global markets, signalling a new phase of scale, execution and competitiveness for the continent’s food economy.
Africa’s food economy enters a new phase
With the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, global buyers will gain direct access to Africa’s fastest-scaling food supply base through a single trade platform. From Nairobi, commercial contracts will be executed, investment flows activated and cross-border value chains aligned, translating global demand into sustained growth across the continent.
The timing of the expansion is significant. Sub-Saharan Africa holds more than 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land, while the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has created a unified market of over 1.4 billion people. Kenya, as a leading producer and exporter of tea, coffee, horticulture, livestock and processed foods, offers a natural entry point for international firms seeking resilient, diversified supply chains.
Africa’s agrifood market is projected to reach $567.31 billion by 2032, and organisers say Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya will play a catalytic role in shaping that growth. By integrating African producers into global food systems through Nairobi, the platform aims to redefine how the continent trades with the world — not as a peripheral supplier, but as a competitive, connected and indispensable partner in global food security.
