AETI Business Forum 2026 Brings Africa’s Private Sector Together in Cape Town to Accelerate Cross-Border Investment

80 delegates, 8 speakers and four countries meet across six sectors; organisers confirm a 2027 edition for November 

The AETI Business Forum 2026, organised by Gettha Agency, brought together 80 delegates and 8 speakers at The Fountains Hotel in Cape Town on 15 October 2026. Investors, project owners, founders and senior decision-makers from South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Gabon gathered for a single day focused on one goal: connecting private capital with investment-ready projects across the continent. 

Built as a curated, private-to-private deal-making forum, AETI 2026 centred on six sectors driving Africa’s growth: Mining, Energy, Infrastructure, ICT, Agribusiness & Food Security, and Finance & FDI. The programme combined three masterclasses, three project pitch sessions and structured networking designed to move conversations from introduction to partnership. 

A call for cross-border investment

Opening the forum, Ganief Bardien, Regional Manager for the Western Cape at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), set a clear agenda for the day: 

“Africa needs more cross-border investment projects that help build a better future.” 

The theme carried through the masterclasses, where speakers addressed what it takes to make projects investment-ready and to connect capital with bankable businesses, why project management is so often the deciding factor between projects that deliver and those that stall, and why sustainable growth depends on protecting the ecosystems Africa’s economies rely on. 

In the project pitch sessions, project owners presented directly to the investors and decision-makers in the forum, while the networking breaks gave delegates the time to follow up on the spot. 

Bringing founders, investors and SMEs to the same table

Audrey Bading, Managing Director and Founder of Gettha Agency, said:

“AETI is designed to bring founders, investors and SMEs together, focused on how we trade and work together to grow our industries. Our goal is to make sure the AETI Business Forum turns those conversations into real partnerships, and 2027 is looking bright.” 

Speakers

Speakers at AETI 2026 were Ganief Bardien (Industrial Development Corporation), Audrey Bading (Gettha Agency), Robyn Border (Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Deodat Zawadi (Ukamili Digital City), Madelein Mkunu (Leading Women of Africa Group), Benedicte Kazaka (EasyAndy), Kebonemorena Nthite (KN Consulting) and Dr Sara Andreotti (SharkSafe Barriers). 

Partners

The forum was supported by event partners Ukamili Digital City, aMendla and Wesgro, and by media partners Matière News, The Green Agenda Magazine, Devdiscourse, Global Africa Network, ESight, MAC Insights, SA Profile, South African Business Integrator and Yaso Magazine. 

AETI 2027

The AETI Business Forum returns in November 2027. Dates will be announced on the AETI Business Forum LinkedIn page and at getthaagency.net. 

Source: Gettha Agency