Africa Trade Awards 2027 official logo
Recognition presented on stage at the 2026 Africa Trade Awards ceremony

The Awards

Honouring Achievement
Across Africa’s Trade Landscape

The Africa Trade Awards recognise the leaders, enterprises and institutions whose work advances African trade and industrialisation, honoured through a structured, independent recognition framework.

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H.E. Carlos Manuel Vila NovaPresident of São Tomé and PríncipePresenting the Award
The Recognition Framework

Five tiers of continental recognition

Continental Leadership recognition at the Africa Trade AwardsRecognition tier focus
Tier 01

Continental Leadership

Recognising the leaders and institutions shaping the direction of African trade, integration and industrialisation at a continental scale.

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Explore the Awards

Find where achievement is recognised

Select a tier, then a category, to see exactly what it recognises for the 2027 edition.

Continental Leadership

Recognition for leadership whose influence on trade, investment or industry reaches beyond a single organisation or country.

3 award categories

  • Recognises a person whose leadership has made a major and lasting difference to how trade, investment, or industry works across Africa. The impact must extend beyond one organisation or country.

    2026 recipientProf. Benedict Oramah, Former President of Afreximbank

    Nominate in this category

Who Can Be Recognised

Recognition is open across the continent

The Awards recognise contribution across four streams, from individual leadership to landmark projects of continental significance.

A contemporary African port, rail and road freight corridor connecting industry with a commercial city
Individuals
Leaders, public officials and institutional figures whose work advances African trade and integration.
Enterprises
Companies and platforms of any scale delivering measurable contribution to continental trade.
Institutions
Development finance institutions, trade banks, regional bodies and trade enablers.
Projects / Initiatives
Landmark projects and legacy contributions of continental significance.

What We Look For

Recognition criteria,
in plain language

Every nomination is assessed against published criteria. The full methodology — independent judging, validation and oversight — is set out in Governance & Integrity.

Industrial production and freight infrastructure operating together at scale
Measurable contribution
Demonstrated, verifiable contribution to African trade, industrialisation or economic integration.
Continental relevance
Impact that extends across borders or sets a direction for the continent.
Integrity & governance
Conduct consistent with the Awards' standards of transparency and ethical practice.
Sustained impact
Contribution that is durable and can be studied, scaled or repeated.

How Recognition Is Decided

A considered path to recognition

Recognition is determined through a structured process designed to consider contribution, evidence and continental significance with independence and integrity.

Senior African professionals engaged in an institutional assessment and deliberation process

  1. Academy Assessment

    Eligible nominations are considered through the Awards' Academy-based assessment process.

  2. Independent Judging

    Evidence and contribution are assessed against the approved recognition criteria.

  3. Validation

    Assessment outcomes undergo an additional layer of review to support consistency and credibility.

  4. Recognition

    Approved outcomes proceed to formal recognition by the Africa Trade Awards.

Nominations

Put a champion forward

Nominate an individual, enterprise, institution or initiative whose contribution is advancing African trade, industrialisation and economic integration.

Nominate NowView nomination guidance