Dhaka : The Africa Bangladesh Business Forum (ABBF) successfully hosted the Africa Bangladesh Business Summit 2026 at the prestigious Gulshan Club, Dhaka, bringing together government officials, business leaders, investors, industry experts, and members of the African community to explore new avenues for trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between Bangladesh and African nations.
The summit commenced at 9:30 AM with the National Anthem of Bangladesh, followed by a welcome address from Mr. Zahirul Haq, Founder and President of the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum. In his remarks, he highlighted the growing importance of Africa as a strategic economic partner for Bangladesh and emphasized ABBF’s commitment to building sustainable business bridges between the two regions.
The opening session featured a keynote speech by Mr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of Fortune Group and Advisor to ABBF, who shared valuable insights on emerging business opportunities across Africa and encouraged Bangladeshi enterprises to explore the continent’s rapidly growing markets.
The Chief Guest, Mr. A.T.M. Abdul Rouf, Director General (Africa Wing), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, addressed the gathering and underscored the importance of strengthening diplomatic and economic engagement between Bangladesh and African countries. He reaffirmed the government’s support for initiatives that promote bilateral trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity.
A major highlight of the summit was the panel discussion titled “Unlocking Opportunities Between Bangladesh and Africa: Challenges, Prospects and Strategic Pathways.” Moderated by Mr. Zahirul Haq, the discussion featured distinguished panelists:
The discussion explored key topics including common misconceptions about doing business in Africa, investment opportunities across various sectors, trade facilitation, logistics and supply chain challenges, market-entry strategies, and the role of government and private-sector collaboration in strengthening Africa-Bangladesh relations. Participants actively engaged with the panel through an interactive question-and-answer session, resulting in a productive exchange of ideas and practical recommendations.
Following a networking break, the summit entered its second phase, beginning with a presentation on Kingmansa.com, a Canadian AI-powered global B2B marketplace specializing in facilitating export-import trade with African countries. The presentation showcased how digital technologies and AI-driven business matching can help companies identify opportunities, connect with verified partners, and expand their presence across African markets.
This was followed by a presentation from Global Conference Alliance, an event partner, highlighting its flagship international conference platform and the opportunities it provides for global business networking, knowledge exchange, professional development, and international collaboration. Both presentations generated significant interest among participants seeking to expand their international business networks and explore new market opportunities.
The program continued with an interactive dialogue between members of the African community in Bangladesh and ABBF members, focusing on enhancing trade connectivity, addressing business challenges, and fostering stronger partnerships between African and Bangladeshi stakeholders.
The event also featured remarks from Major General Md. Masud Rezwan (Retd.), Advisor to the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum and former Director General of Immigration and Passports, Government of Bangladesh. In his address, he emphasized the importance of long-term engagement, policy support, and stronger institutional collaboration to unlock the vast economic potential between Bangladesh and Africa.
The summit concluded with a networking lunch, providing participants with an opportunity to establish new connections, discuss business opportunities, and explore future collaborations.
Speaking at the conclusion of the event, ABBF leadership announced its next major international initiative: the Africa Bangladesh Trade Show & Business Summit 2026, scheduled to take place on 6–7 August 2026 at the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. The event is expected to attract business leaders, investors, policymakers, chambers of commerce, trade associations, entrepreneurs, and development partners from across Africa and Bangladesh.
The announcement follows the successful organization of ABBF’s previous international event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which received strong participation from both public and private sector stakeholders and contributed significantly to expanding Africa-Bangladesh business engagement.
The upcoming Lagos summit aims to further strengthen commercial ties by facilitating B2B and B2G meetings, investment discussions, trade exhibitions, sector-specific networking, and strategic partnerships across key industries including manufacturing, agriculture, ICT, healthcare, energy, infrastructure, fintech, and logistics.
The successful organization of the Africa Bangladesh Business Summit 2026 in Dhaka reflects the growing momentum in Africa-Bangladesh relations and the increasing interest among businesses from both regions to collaborate for mutual growth and prosperity. Through its initiatives, the Africa Bangladesh Business Forum continues to serve as a catalyst for trade promotion, investment facilitation, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and the African continent.
