The 2026 edition of Infrastructure Africa will bring together industry stakeholders, provide a platform for information sharing, and promote investment based on infrastructure development.
The pace of infrastructure development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is gaining momentum, with governments, investors and development finance institutions prioritising projects that can accelerate regional trade, energy access, transport connectivity and industrialisation.
These themes will take centre stage at the Infrastructure Africa Business Forum, taking place from 2–3 March 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa’s infrastructure investment gap stands at USD130–170-billion annually, with southern Africa accounting for nearly 30% of that need. Despite this, SADC countries continue to show progress, with significant investments in energy interconnections, port expansions, transport corridors and digital infrastructure reshaping the regional economy.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of Africa’s economic transformation,” says Liz Hart, managing director of the Infrastructure Africa Business Forum. “The SADC region holds immense potential to become a hub of industrial activity, trade and investment if we accelerate bankable, cross-border projects.”Recent initiatives, such as the Beitbridge Border Post modernisation, the Kazungula Bridge and ongoing energy transmission projects under the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) demonstrate how infrastructure can drive regional integration and open new trade routes.
The 2026 Infrastructure Africa Business Forum will bring together government leaders, investors, DFIs, EPCs and private developers to explore:Financing mechanisms for bankable regional projectsPublic-private partnerships (PPPs) that can accelerate deliveryEnergy, water, transport and ICT infrastructure priorities across SADCClimate-resilient infrastructure and green investment opportunitiesWith Africa’s urban population expected to double by 2050, demand for sustainable and resilient infrastructure will surge. The Forum will provide a platform to connect project sponsors and investors to unlock capital flows and deliver tangible impact.
The Infrastructure Africa Business Forum plays a critical role in connecting opportunities to investment,” adds Hart. “SADC’s infrastructure progress is real, but scaling it up will require stronger collaboration, innovation and financing partnerships.”The event will serve as a launchpad for new infrastructure partnerships that can reshape the future of development in the region.
