Africa Food & Trade Forum 2026 – Poland and Africa Strengthen Cooperation in the Food Sector

29 September 2026

The first edition of the Africa Food & Trade Forum, organised as part of POLAGRA 2026 in Poznań, brought together more than 100 representatives of business, public administration, economic organisations, export-support institutions and diplomatic missions. The main objective of the event was to develop economic cooperation between Poland and African countries, with particular emphasis on the agri-food sector.

The Forum was created in response to the growing interest of Polish companies in diversifying their export marketsand the increasing importance of African countries in international trade. Polish producers looking for new markets met directly with representatives of African companies and institutions interested in imports, new suppliers and long-term business cooperation.

Business, Institutions and Diplomacy

The international character of the event was highlighted by the participation of representatives of the embassies of Angola, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Senegal and Tunisia.

The Forum also brought together organisations involved in the development of international trade, including the National Support Centre for Agriculture, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, the Polish-African Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Importers, Exporters and Cooperation, the Oromia Chamber of Sectoral Association and the Algeria Poland Exchange Council.

The private sector was represented by companies including Damaco, SM Koło, Iglotex, Paula Fish, Greenyard, Agrico, ZM Biernacki, Kawiks, Smak Górno, Olewnik, Geo-Poland, Polsero and Jantex. The presence of producers, importers, public institutions and diplomatic representatives made it possible to discuss cooperation from several perspectives at once – from production and export capabilities to regulations, logistics and the specific conditions of individual markets.

From Product Presentation to B2B Meetings

The Africa Food & Trade Forum was designed as a platform for direct business contacts, rather than solely as a conference. The programme combined presentations on the potential of African markets with the capabilities of the Polish food sector and direct meetings between entrepreneurs.

One of the key elements was the Polish Food Export Showcase, which allowed Polish companies to present their products, production capacities and export potential to international partners. This was complemented by B2B meetings, enabling participants to move from general interest in a market to direct contact with specific importers, distributors and institutions.

This approach is particularly important in trade with African countries, where knowledge of local regulations, distribution structures, consumer needs and business practices can significantly influence the success of market entry.

Africa as a Direction for Export Growth

Population growth, urbanisation, the expansion of the middle class and infrastructure investment are increasing the importance of many African countries as potential markets for food producers. At the same time, Africa is not a single homogeneous economic market – individual countries differ in their level of development, import regulations, trade structures, distribution channels and consumer preferences.

For this reason, one of the Forum’s main objectives was to provide entrepreneurs with direct access to people and organisations with practical knowledge of specific markets, helping companies assess export potential and prepare market-entry strategies.

POLAGRA Strengthens Its International Focus

The Africa Food & Trade Forum further develops the international dimension of POLAGRA. It complements the event’s Hosted Buyers Program, which brings selected international importers, distributors and buyers to Poznań to meet Polish food companies.

More than 100 participants at the first edition of the Forum demonstrated the level of interest in developing cooperation between Poland and African countries. The most important outcome, however, was the network of direct contacts established between producers, importers, institutions and public-sector representatives, which may provide a foundation for further negotiations, contracts and the expansion of Polish companies into new markets.

Source: Africa Food & Trade Forum / POLAGRA / Poznań International Fair