Kenya to Host Gulfood360 2027, Targeting KSh 73 Trillion African Market
Kenya’s Strategic Role in Global Food Trade
Kenya has been officially selected to host the African debut of Gulfood360, the world's largest food and beverage sourcing platform. The event, titled Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya, will take place in Nairobi from May 4–6, 2027. This marks a significant milestone for Kenya, positioning the country as a key gateway for global trade in Africa’s food, agribusiness, and logistics sectors.
The decision highlights Kenya’s growing influence in economic diplomacy and places it at the center of a regional food market projected to reach over $567 billion (about KSh 73 trillion) by 2032. This strategic move is expected to boost Kenya’s efforts to position itself as a first-world economy.
Benefits for the Kenyan Economy
Hosting this major event is seen as a direct catalyst for Kenya’s economic goals. It is anticipated to drive agricultural value addition, enhance export competitiveness, and promote agro-industrialization. Additionally, it aims to integrate small and medium-sized enterprises into global supply chains.
Lee Kinyanjui, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, emphasized that the launch of Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya represents a decisive step in Kenya’s trade and investment journey. He highlighted the role of the Kenya-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and structural reforms in supporting this initiative.
Why Kenya Was Chosen
Kenya’s selection is based on several strategic advantages that make it an ideal location for such a large-scale event. These include standardized infrastructure, ongoing expansions at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, modernization of the Port of Mombasa, and the development of multimodal trade corridors. These elements provide the physical backbone necessary for efficient movement of goods.
Kenya also offers a low-carbon, reliable, and cost-competitive energy supply, with over 90% of its electricity generated from renewable sources like geothermal, wind, and solar. This is a critical factor for environmentally conscious global agribusiness.
Additionally, Kenya’s reputation as Africa’s technology hub will be showcased during the event. Innovations in digital payments, AI-driven agritech, smart logistics, and climate intelligence will highlight how technology can build resilient and transparent food systems from farm to market.
Gateway to the African Market
The event serves as a gateway to the vast African market. Kenya acts as the natural entry point to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which encompasses over 1.4 billion people. Sub-Saharan Africa holds more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, representing immense untapped potential.
Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya aims to connect global buyers directly with this fast-growing supply base. The 2027 event will follow closely on the heels of another major international gathering, AI Everything x GITEX Kenya, scheduled for May 2026. This back-to-back hosting of mega-events underscores a deliberate strategy to establish Kenya as Africa’s undisputed hub for trade, technology, and investment diplomacy.
Future Prospects
Trixie LohMirmand, Global Organiser of Gulfood, stated that Kenya is built for global competitiveness and Africa is at its inflection point. She emphasized that Gulfood360 Africa/Kenya positions the country as the conduit through which African produce and value flow into international markets.
This expansion sends a clear signal that Africa’s food economy is entering a new phase of scale, execution, and competitiveness, with Kenya leading the charge. The event promises to translate global demand into tangible opportunities for Kenyan and African farmers, processors, manufacturers, and tech innovators, ultimately driving job creation, industrial growth, and sustainable economic development across the continent.
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