Catalysing SME growth through global power networks — the Forum convenes at the NH Hotel, Sandton, on 23 and 24 November 2026
The City of Johannesburg has been confirmed as host destination for the Global SME Forums International Africa Edition 2026, reinforcing South Africa’s position as a leading destination for investment, innovation and business collaboration on the African continent.
The hosting rights were secured through a successful bid led by the Johannesburg Convention Bureau, with the announcement formalised on 7 June 2026. The Forum will take place on 23 and 24 November 2026 at the NH Hotel, Sandton, under the theme “Catalysing SME Growth Through Global Power Networks”.
The 2026 edition marks the first African chapter of the Global SME Forums, an international platform that has convened small and medium enterprises, investors and policymakers across Davos, Asia and the Middle East. Bringing the Forum to Africa is a deliberate choice rather than a symbolic one. Africa is the only region where MSME growth, digital adoption and new-economy innovation are accelerating at the same time and at continental scale, and where questions of market access, cross-border flows and value-chain integration are live commercial realities rather than policy debates.
The inaugural Africa Edition will bring together global and African business leaders, policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs and industry experts to advance dialogue on SME growth, investment, innovation and international market access, with senior delegations from across Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
THE PROGRAMME
The two-day programme runs with a deliberate progression from agenda-setting to execution. It features keynote addresses by global thought leaders, strategic policy dialogues, sponsor-led executive roundtables, curated business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, an Investment and Innovation Village, and a continental SME exhibition showcasing export-ready enterprises and emerging solutions from across Africa. Day two closes with the presentation of signed memoranda of understanding, investment commitments and deal showcases.
Programming is organised around three pillars — Sustainability, Innovation and Investment — spanning consumer goods and manufacturing, tourism and the experience economy, social impact, the digital economy and advanced technologies, health and life sciences, research and development, and finance.
THEMES OF THE 2026 AFRICA EDITION
• SME growth through global partnerships and new trade corridors
• Investment readiness and access to capital, including sustainable and blended finance • Policy frameworks enabling SME competitiveness, and a “Think Small First” mechanism • Digital transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation ecosystems
• Women-led and youth-led enterprise development
• Cross-border trade, AfCFTA protocols and market expansion
LEADERSHIP REFLECTIONS
Founder of Global SME Forums, Theresa Al-Wadi, said the decision to host on the African continent reflects Africa’s rising global influence:
Africa is not just participating in the future of global enterprise — it is shaping it. Johannesburg provides the ideal launchpad for embedding the world’s SME agenda into the fastest growing entrepreneurial ecosystem on earth.
Theresa Al-Wadi, Founder, Global SME Forums
Executive Head: Tourism Strategic Services at the Johannesburg Convention Bureau, Rendani Khorombi, welcomed the announcement:
We are honoured to bring this global platform to Johannesburg. The Forum aligns with our city’s commitment to driving inclusive growth, attracting investment, and elevating African SMEs onto the world stage.
Rendani Khorombi, Executive Head: Tourism Strategic Services, Johannesburg Convention Bureau
Chief Executive Officer of Millvest Advisory, Miller Matola, noted that the collaboration demonstrates the value of strategic partnerships in advancing Africa’s SME ecosystem:
This partnership unites global networks with deep local insight. The Africa Edition is designed to deliver tangible investment opportunities, meaningful partnerships, and lasting impact for SMEs across the continent.
Miller Matola, Chief Executive Officer, Millvest Advisory
PARTICIPATION AND PARTNERSHIP
The Global SME Forums – Africa Edition 2026, hosted by the City of Johannesburg in partnership with Global SME Forums, and with support from strategic public and private sector partners, will bring together government, business, investors and ecosystem partners to advance SME growth through improved market access, investment opportunities, innovation and global competitiveness.
Delegate registration is open, with Forum, Forum and Village, and All Access Concierge options available. Partnership and exhibition positions across the Forum’s sectoral clusters are available on application, as are exhibition tables within the Investment and Innovation Village. For programme updates, partnership opportunities and registration information, visit www.globalsmeforums.com or contact Dianna Martin to discuss your Forum partnership and exhibition needs, dianna@globalsmeforums.com.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: Global SME Forums – Africa Edition 2026
Dates: 23 and 24 November 2026
Venue: NH Hotel, Sandton City, Johannesburg, South Africa
Theme: Catalysing SME Growth Through Global Power Networks
Host: City of Johannesburg, in partnership with Global SME Forums International; convened in Africa by Millvest Advisory
ABOUT GLOBAL SME FORUMS
Global SME Forums is an international platform positioning small and medium enterprises at the centre of global economic transformation. Through its international editions, the Forum connects SMEs to trade, investment, research and innovation networks, brokers cross-border partnerships and deal-making, and works alongside policymakers to reduce the barriers to enterprise growth and expansion.