AfCFTA Secretariat, Algeria partner on Africa Start-up Conference 2026

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the Government of Algeria have agreed to collaborate on the organisation of the Africa Start-up Conference scheduled to take place in Algiers from December 5 to 7, 2026.

The agreement was discussed during a meeting between AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene and Algeria’s Minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-Ups and Micro-enterprises, Noureddine Ouadah, held on the sidelines of the Africa Investment and Trade Forum (AFIC12) in Algiers on May 9 and 10.

The discussions focused on strengthening support for African start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly youth-led businesses, as part of broader continental trade and industrialisation efforts under the AfCFTA framework.

Both parties also reviewed outcomes from the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 hosted in Algiers and explored opportunities to expand entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives across the continent.

According to the AfCFTA Secretariat, the planned Africa Start-up Conference will serve as a platform to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, investment opportunities, and regional collaboration among African start-ups and SMEs.

The Secretariat further highlighted ongoing SME-focused initiatives being implemented at national and regional levels to support business growth, market access, and deeper economic integration across Africa.