From Dubai to Nairobi.. “Gulfood” announces its continental expansion by launching “Gulfood 360 Africa” in Kenya 2027

Gulfood, the leading global food and beverage supply platform, announced its strategic expansion into the African continent through the launch of the “Gulfood 360 Africa/Kenya” exhibition, which is scheduled to be held in the capital, Nairobi, from May 4 to 6, 2027.

This announcement came during the Gulfood 2026 activities held in Dubai, confirming the selection of Kenya as the official host country for the exhibition in Africa, and strengthening its position as a main gateway to the continent that opens broad horizons towards food systems, agribusiness, logistics services and innovation at the global level.

The launch of “Gulfood 360 Africa/Kenya”, which is supported by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the Agriculture and Food Authority, and the Office of the Special Envoy for Technology in Kenya, represents the embodiment of a pivotal strategic partnership between the UAE and Kenya based on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries, as the event aims to accelerate trade flows, attract foreign direct investment and strengthen regional value chains, consolidating the leadership position of the African continent in global food markets.

Kenya’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Lee Kenyagwe, said that the launch of “Gulfood 360 Africa/Kenya” represents a turning point in Kenya’s trade and investment path, noting that, based on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE and the broad structural reforms that accompany it, this event reflects a country that is mobilizing its production system with its full capacity to engage in global trade, and consolidating its position as Africa’s gateway to the world by linking its farms, factories and logistical corridors to international markets.

Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Senator Mutahi Kagwe, confirmed that the agricultural sector constitutes a fundamental pillar of Kenya’s economy, as it contributes more than a quarter of the domestic product and supports millions of families. He explained that “Gulfood 360 Africa/Kenya” reflects the country’s commitment to transforming this agricultural strength into global opportunities and linking producers in Kenya and Africa to international markets.

In the same context, Trixie Loh Mirmand, the global organizer of the Gulfood exhibition, explained that Kenya has prominent competitive capabilities at the global level, pointing out that Africa stands today at a real turning point, and the exhibition comes to enhance Kenya’s role as a pivotal bridge for African products and innovations to cross to international markets, as this expansion carries a clear message that the food economy in Africa is entering a new phase of growth, implementation and competitiveness led by Kenya with confidence and a clear vision.

Gulfood 360 Africa/Kenya works as a stimulating platform to enhance added value in the agricultural sector, raise export competitiveness, support agricultural industrialization, expand the participation of small and medium enterprises, and drive industrial growth, consolidating the pivotal role of the Republic of Kenya as a leading trade and food gateway. The launch of the event constitutes a turning point that gives global buyers direct access to the fastest growing food supply centers on the continent through a reliable and unified trade portal.

Kenya’s selection to host this event is driven by extensive strategic investments in infrastructure and advanced logistics services, including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the development of regional airports, the modernization of the Port of Mombasa, and the establishment of multimodal trade corridors linking East and Central Africa, in addition to Kenya’s leadership in green energy and smart climate development, which is a pivotal pillar of its competitiveness, as the country today generates more than 90% of its electricity from clean sources, providing investors in agriculture and industry with reliable, low-cost and low-emission energy sources that are in line with governance standards. Global environmental and social.

Kenya represents a major hub in the landscape of growing food opportunities, as the Sub-Saharan Africa region possesses more than 60% of the global unexploited arable land. Kenya is a strategic gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area, which includes a market that embraces more than 1.4 billion people. The country is also keen to take advantage of its role as a major producer and exporter of tea, coffee, horticulture and livestock to be an entry point for international companies seeking expansion and building flexible supply chains within an African food economy that is expected to reach $567.31 billion by 2032. Africa

Kenya is known globally as “Africa’s Silicon Valley in terms of innovation, as it leads advanced solutions in digital payments, logistics technology, smart agriculture, and artificial intelligence. The exhibition will highlight the role of these technologies, digital trade platforms, and climate analytics in developing food systems, enhancing traceability of supply chains, reducing food loss, increasing farmers’ incomes, and building future-ready supply chains.

The announcement of the exhibition came after Kenya was also chosen to host the largest technical event of its kind in East Africa, “AI Everything x GITEX Kenya,” scheduled to be held from May 19 to 21, 2026, which strengthens its position as a pivotal center for receiving global events in the fields of trade and technology, and highlights the country’s strategy in employing major events to enhance investments, partnerships, industrial development, and geopolitical presence.