Harbor africa 2026

Harbor Africa 2026 is an executive mission to Rwanda and Ghana, where governance meets opportunity, and Africa's definitive advantages in talent, capability, and capacity become your competitive edge.

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The Future is Africa

Africa is emerging as the world’s most strategic partner for resilient operations, innovative growth, and sustainable leadership pipelines. The Leadership Mission in 2026 connects global executives with Africa’s unmatched strengths in governance, human capital, and scalable opportunity.

Strategic
Capability

01.

Build strong governance and leadership frameworks through Africa’s rapidly advancing institutions, policies, and talent infrastructure.

Scalable
Capacity

02.

Leverage a continent rich in skilled professionals, youthful workforce, and expanding sectors ready to support global operational growth.

Transformative
Culture

03.

Connect with an entrepreneurial, adaptable, and forward-driven culture that accelerates innovation and long-term success.

Join the Leaders Shaping Africa’s Global Future

Be part of an exclusive executive mission designed to unlock Africa’s unmatched potential in talent, governance, and innovation. Forge strategic alliances, accelerate your global impact.

Capability

Africa’s Strategic Capability

Discover Africa’s rapidly advancing business-service ecosystem, designed to meet global demand, strengthen resilience, and deliver world-class operational performance.

The delegation will explore the region’s rapidly evolving capabilities in business services that align with global demand and de-risk supply chains. This includes, but is not limited to, IT-enabled services, finance and accounting, elite customer experience delivery, resilient supply chain coordination, and emerging AI/data support. Delegates will conduct site visits to companies and academic institutions to assess validated, low-risk locations for immediate business ventures and strategic establishments.

Why It Matters:
Global enterprises demand resilient, responsive, and operationally capable service-delivery models. Africa offers scale, talent, and strategic cost parity, providing a definitive location for low-risk outsourcing with zero reduction in quality compared to other international destinations.

Key Outcome:
Strategic MOUs between companies owned and/or represented by attending delegates and their counterparts in Ghana and/or Rwanda, formalizing operational partnerships and investment.

Capacity

Unlock Africa’s Unmatched Capacity

Tap into the world’s fastest-growing talent ecosystem, built on strong educational investments and designed to fuel global enterprises for decades to come.

Africa will be home to over 1.1 billion working-age people by 2040, a demographic engine unparalleled globally. Countries like Rwanda and Ghana have proactively invested heavily in technical education and employability pipelines. Delegates will engage directly with university leadership, specialized workforce-development organizations, and cutting-edge talent accelerators to assess talent readiness and explore co-investment in sourcing, training, and custom onboarding models.

Why It Matters:
Africa will have the world’s largest and youngest workforce aged between 18 and 35 by 2030, making the continent the #1 source of future human capital. Early and fast movers have the exclusive opportunity to co-create the next generation of AI-enabled, future-ready talent for mutual, long-term competitive advantage.

Key Outcome:
Formal strategic partnerships, alliance workforce-development agreements, and MOUs between delegates and their counterparts in Rwanda and/or Ghana, securing a dedicated talent pipeline for their enterprises.

CULTURE

Experience Africa’s Trust-Driven Culture

Discover how Africa’s deeply rooted cultural values create the foundation for governance-driven partnerships, resilient collaboration, and long-term business success.

In high-stakes business, trust is the non-negotiable foundation. In Africa, culture is the accelerator of that trust. The delegation will engage in curated cultural experiences to explore how history, tradition, and innovation intersect as the necessary foundation for building governance-driven business relationships.

Why It Matters:
In African enterprise, culture is not cosmetic; it is foundational and strategic. Understanding this context builds high-value trust and enables deeper, more sustainable partnerships with reduced friction.

Key Outcome:
Confirmed delegates will commence a structured, trust-building process in the months leading up to the event in March 2026. This pre-mission relational capital will accelerate the securing of tangible, meaningful business outcomes during and after the mission.

Ghana

Ghana is the democratic gateway to West Africa and a major economic convergence point for talent, trade, and regional leadership. The country acts as the engine of scale and continental influence, underpinned by tangible investment incentives. Enterprises benefit from a Talent Guarantee, driven by a government initiative to train one million young people in digital and technology skills, creating an unparalleled, future-ready workforce pipeline. For financial enhancement, companies in key IT and BPO zones enjoy 10-year tax holidays, immediately boosting long-term profitability. Ghana's Regional Authority is solidified by hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, positioning it as the strategic hub for continental trade and enterprise expansion across 54 markets. This stability and opportunity are reflected in its FDI Strength, as Ghana is consistently ranked in the Top 5 FDI destinations in Africa, affirming its investment-friendly environment..

Rwanda

Rwanda's status as the model for governance, digital efficiency, and policy agility makes it the ultimate low-risk partner and a hub for committed leadership and enterprise piloting. This strategic value is supported by outstanding Governance & De-Risking metrics, including its consistent ranking as #1 in Africa for Government Transparency and Top 3 for Ease of Doing Business (World Bank). Rwanda actively attracts foreign investment through favorable financial policies, offering a highly competitive Corporate Income Tax (CIT) of 15% for companies in the Kigali Innovation City (KIC) Special Economic Zone, and guaranteeing Ease of Capital Repatriation with a 0% withholding tax on dividends for foreign investors. Furthermore, its commitment to a robust Digital Infrastructure, aiming for full national fiber connectivity by 2026, ensures immediate, high-speed support for all BPO and digital operations.

A Journey of Collaboration & Opportunity

2026 Itinerary Highlights

Days 1 - 5

Kigali, Rwanda (16th to 20th March)

  • Arrive in Kigali and enjoy a VIP welcome reception with coffee-infused cocktails overlooking Rwanda’s iconic hills.
  • Explore Rwanda’s investment incentives and BPO ecosystem through strategic roundtables, data center visits, and a ministerial banquet.
  • Immerse in Africa’s talent engine with university dialogues, student-led demos, and a diplomatic dinner.
  • Reflect on Rwanda’s cultural heritage at the Genocide Memorial and engage in art and fashion experiences before a vibrant gala.
  • Seal deals and network during an executive golf challenge followed by MOU signings and a chef’s table dinner.
  • Day 6 & 7

    Rest and Travel (21st & 22nd March)

    Transition from Kigali to Accra with priority travel arrangements.

    Days 7 - 12

    Accra, Ghana (22nd - 27th March)

  • Arrive in Accra and enjoy a polo match and cocktail reception at a private venue.
  • Dive into Ghana’s BPO/ITO ecosystem with a summit, tech hub visits, and an evening of Highlife music and dance.
  • Engage in a regulatory roundtable and visit the AfCFTA Secretariat before a strategic ministerial banquet.
  • Experience Ghana’s talent pipeline through Higher Education immersion and Tech Hub demos, capped with a skyline dinner.
  • Explore Ghana’s cultural heritage at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Accra’s art district before the African Royalty Gala.
  • Conclude with an executive golf challenge, MOU signings, and the official WALA launch dinner.
  • Steering Committee

    Meet the committee shaping the mission.

    Kojo Annan

    Entrepreneur | Investor | Youth & Sports Advocate

    Greg Deavens

    President & CEO | Board Leader

    Dr. Jeffrey Blander

    Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of State

    Michael Clarke

    Board Director | Global Compliance Leader

    Toyan Espeut

    SaaS Executive | GTM & FinOps Strategist

    Edmund Green

    Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Board Harbor Foundation

    Ciemone A. Sheppard

    CEO | Licensed Insurance & Financial Strategist

    Leah Nduati

    Executive Director, Board Harbor Foundation

    Dr. Joyce Cacho

    Board Chair and Corporate Governance Expert

    Paul Williams

    Chief Procurement Officer | Global Sourcing Leader

    Marvin Washington

    Veteran Audit & Risk Leader | Former PwC Partner

    Charles Gilbert

    Account Executive National Sales at US Foods

    Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah

    CROWN Act Champion | Biden-Harris Advisor | Impact Strategist

    Benefits

    When you join the Africa Exchange Forum, you gain more than access — you gain advantage.