Casablanca is set to become a strategic meeting point for industrial investors and technology providers as Industrial Transformation Africa (ITAF) 2026 expands its business-focused approach with the introduction of a Hosted Buyer Programme designed to generate concrete commercial opportunities across the continent.
Scheduled from September 29 to October 1, 2026, at OFEC in Casablanca, the exhibition is organized by Hannover Fairs MENA, the regional subsidiary of Deutsche Messe AG. The event forms part of the internationally recognized Hannover Messe portfolio, bringing decades of industrial exhibition expertise to Africa while creating a platform dedicated to advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies.
The newly launched Hosted Buyer Programme is expected to attract between 50 and 60 carefully selected senior executives, procurement leaders and industrial decision-makers representing manufacturers, distributors, system integrators and technology users seeking innovative production solutions and long-term investment partnerships.
Unlike traditional trade exhibitions that emphasize visitor attendance, ITAF 2026 is placing its priority on business quality. Participants will be matched through pre-arranged B2B meetings intended to connect exhibitors directly with companies that have active purchasing plans and industrial modernization projects.
Recruitment is underway across North, West and East Africa, Southern Europe and the Balkans. Buyers are being invited from countries including Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Portugal, reinforcing the exhibition’s ambition to build stronger industrial links between Africa and neighboring markets.
According to Soley Ozsoy Burumcek, Head of Business Development and MENA Projects at Hannover Fairs MENA, the exhibition is designed to go beyond product showcases by creating an environment where technology providers and manufacturers can establish strategic partnerships, encourage technology transfer and accelerate industrial development throughout Africa.
The initiative comes as manufacturers across the continent continue increasing investments in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, smart logistics, energy-efficient production systems and sustainable manufacturing technologies. By bringing together solution providers and qualified buyers, the exhibition aims to shorten decision-making cycles and encourage faster adoption of modern industrial technologies.
Hosting the event in Casablanca further strengthens Morocco’s position as one of Africa’s leading industrial and logistics hubs. With its expanding manufacturing base, modern transport infrastructure and close commercial ties to both Europe and the Mediterranean region, the Kingdom continues to attract international companies looking to serve regional markets while supporting cross-border investment.
In addition to its exhibition halls, ITAF 2026 will feature conferences, networking sessions and business meetings focused on industrial innovation, smart manufacturing and the technologies expected to shape the next phase of Africa’s industrial transformation. Organizers believe the combination of knowledge exchange and targeted business matchmaking will help position the event among the continent’s leading manufacturing exhibitions while supporting sustainable industrial growth.
