First edition | 18–20 March 2027 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Africa Iron & Steel Exhibition and Conference 2027
Forging Africa's Industrial Century: Iron, Steel and the Decade of Acceleration
The African Union-anchored meeting place of the continent's iron and steel value chain: the governments that own the ore, the producers who make the steel, the financiers who fund the furnaces and the partners who build them.
- Dates
- 18–20 March 2027Arrivals and registration from 17 March
- Venue
- African Union HeadquartersAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Organiser
- Africa Chamber of Iron and Steel IndustryHosted by the African Union Commission
- Format
- Summit, conference and exhibitionDeal Room and Africa Steel Awards Gala
- 3
- Days at the AU
- 4
- Parallel tracks
- 12
- Country investment showcases
- 12
- Award categories
About AISEC 2027
The ore is African. The steel should be too.
Africa holds some of the world's largest undeveloped iron ore deposits, yet imports most of the finished steel it consumes.
- SimandouGuinea
- Gara DjebiletAlgeria
- LigangaTanzania
- NimbaLiberia–Guinea border
- Bikilal & SekotaEthiopia
AISEC 2027 is the African Union-anchored meeting place of the continent's iron and steel value chain. Over three days at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, it brings together a high-level political summit, a technical and commercial conference, an exhibition with country pavilions, a structured Deal Room and the inaugural Africa Steel Awards Gala Dinner.
No annual platform has brought the political owners of Africa's iron ore together with producers, financiers and technology partners under the African Union's own roof. AISEC fills that gap. It is organised by the Africa Chamber of Iron and Steel Industry (ACISI), hosted by the African Union Commission, with the Africa International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AICCI) as strategic partner and event management by OttoCore Inc.
Three forces converge in 2027
- 01
Simandou ships
First shipments from Guinea's Simandou reset the continent's position in global iron ore supply.
- 02
AfCFTA opens the market
The African Continental Free Trade Area makes intra-African steel trade commercially feasible for the first time.
- 03
Low-carbon steel rewards Africa
The shift to low-carbon steelmaking favours regions with abundant renewable power, including Ethiopia's hydropower.
Theme
Forging Africa's Industrial Century: Iron, Steel and the Decade of Acceleration
The theme ties the sector to Agenda 2063's second ten-year plan, the Decade of Acceleration. AISEC is a delivery platform, not a talking shop: the programme moves deliberately from politics to projects to people, and every session closes with one concrete commitment.
Day 1 | Thu 18 March
Ambition
The Continental Agenda
Opening Ceremony, Leaders' Dialogue, the launch of the AISEC Africa Steel Outlook 2027, a Ministerial Roundtable and a plenary on financing.
Day 2 | Fri 19 March
Execution
Building the Value Chain
Green steel, four parallel tracks, twelve country investment showcases, the Deal Room, a bankable-projects pitch and the Gulf–Africa Steel Bridge.
Day 3 | Sat 20 March
Accountability
People, Policy and Commitments
Skills, women and youth; safety and ESG; adoption of the Addis Ababa Declaration, MoU signings and the Africa Steel Awards Gala.
Venue
9.03° N · 38.74° E
Addis Ababa
African Union Conference Centre, African Union Headquarters. The seat of the African Union, and the continent's diplomatic capital.
Event details
Three days under the African Union's roof
- Dates
- Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 March 2027
- Arrivals
- Wednesday 17 March 2027: registration, badge collection and Welcome Reception
- Venue
- African Union Conference Centre, African Union Headquarters
- City
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Format
- Summit, conference, exhibition, Deal Room and Awards Gala
- Languages
- Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Arabic and Portuguese
- Times
- East Africa Time (UTC+3)
- Contact
- events@ottocore.io
Programme
From politics to projects to people
A summit-scale opening, two days of plenaries and parallel tracks, and a closing that turns commitments into a signed declaration. Speakers are being invited and will be announced in waves; session times are indicative and shared in full with registered delegates.
Day 1 | Thursday 18 March 2027
The Continental Agenda
Ambition
07:30–09:15
Registration and networking breakfast
Foyer
09:30–11:00
Opening Ceremony
Anthems, welcome by ACISI, host-country address and African Union keynotes; the Addis Declaration of Intent; ribbon-cutting to open the Expo
Nelson Mandela Hall
11:00–11:30
Expo walk-through and coffee
Expo Zone
11:30–12:45
Leaders' Dialogue: Steel as the Backbone of Agenda 2063
A moderated conversation with invited Heads of State and Government on national steel ambitions and the case for a continental value chain
Nelson Mandela Hall
12:45–14:00
Networking lunch
Banquet Hall
14:00–14:45
Plenary 1: State of African Steel 2027
Launch of the AISEC Africa Steel Outlook 2027: production, consumption, trade flows, import dependency and the project pipeline
Nelson Mandela Hall
14:45–16:00
Ministerial Roundtable: From Ore to Output
Ministers of industry and mines compare national steel strategies, incentives, local-content rules and beneficiation policy
Nelson Mandela Hall
16:00–16:30
Coffee and Expo
Expo Zone
16:30–17:45
Plenary 2: Financing the Furnaces
Capital for Africa's steel century: development finance institutions, banks and sovereign and strategic investors on closing the bankability gap
Nelson Mandela Hall
19:00–21:30
Ethiopia Night
Host-country reception with a cultural programme
AUC Grounds Marquee
Indicative times, East Africa Time (UTC+3)
Day 2 | Parallel tracks
Four tracks along the value chain
From the ore body to the building site. Each track runs two sessions on Friday 19 March, chaired by the institution closest to the subject, and feeds the Outlook report, the Deal Room or the Declaration.
- A
Track A
Raw Materials & Mining
Progress on the flagship iron ore projects and the metallics supply chain, feeding project data straight into the Deal Room.
- Block 1Flagship projects: Simandou, Gara Djebilet, Liganga, Bikilal, Manhize
- Block 2Scrap, DRI/HBI and metallics trade
- B
Track B
Steelmaking Technology & Digital
Process routes and Industry 4.0 tools sized for African scale, power and feedstock, with live demonstrations on the Expo Stage.
- Block 1EAF, DRI and BF-BOF routes for Africa
- Block 2Digital steel and Industry 4.0
- C
Track C
Trade, AfCFTA & Standards
Turning the AfCFTA into real intra-African steel trade: rules of origin, tariff phase-downs, trade remedies, payments and common standards.
- Block 1Rules of origin, tariff schedules, anti-dumping and PAPSS
- Block 2Standards, quality and rebar harmonisation
- D
Track D
Downstream Demand & Clusters
Steel demand from housing, transport corridors, rail, energy transmission and manufacturing, linked to special-economic-zone steel clusters.
- Block 1Construction, corridors, rail and energy transmission
- Block 2Special-economic-zone and industrial-park clusters
Outcomes
Every session closes with a commitment
Each session has a stated objective and a tangible output that feeds the Addis Ababa Declaration, the Outlook report or the Deal Room. Moderators run to time and keep opening statements to four minutes.
- 01
Addis Ababa Declaration on African Iron & Steel
Political and ministerial commitments consolidated into one continental text, adopted at the closing plenary.
- 02
AISEC Africa Steel Outlook 2027
A shared evidence base on production, consumption, trade flows and the project pipeline, launched on Day 1.
- 03
Deal Room meetings
Pre-scheduled meetings that put capital in front of projects, with country opportunity sheets for follow-up.
- 04
MoU and offtake signings
Agreements signed on stage at the closing plenary, including Gulf–Africa steel investment MoUs.
- 05
Green Steel Africa working group
A standing working group under ACISI on low-carbon steelmaking routes for the continent.
- 06
Young Steel Professionals Network
Launched alongside a Women in Steel Charter to build the sector's human-capital pipeline.
Exhibition & Deal Room
Walk the value chain: ore, mill, market, money
The exhibition is laid out in five themed zones across the AU Conference Centre foyer and a Grand Marquee on the AU grounds, with country pavilions forming the central spine. The Expo Stage, coffee lounges and Deal Room sit where the breaks bring delegates.
The Deal Room runs pre-scheduled business-to-business, business-to-government and investor meetings with a concierge team. Registered delegates can request meetings ahead of the event.
- Zone A
Producers' Avenue
Steel producers and iron ore majors
AUCC ground-floor foyer
- Zone B
Technology Hall
OEMs, automation and digital
Grand Marquee, north wing
- Zone C
Country Pavilions
National pavilions with showcase slots
Grand Marquee, central spine
- Zone D
Finance & Services Street
Banks, DFIs, insurers, advisers, testing and certification
Grand Marquee, south wing
- Zone E
Downstream & SME Village
Fabricators, roofing, wire and Ethiopian SMEs
Grand Marquee, east wing
Exhibit or sponsor
Stands, country pavilions and partnership packages are available. Ask for the sponsorship prospectus and exhibitor rate card.
Saturday 20 March | Gala dinner
The inaugural Africa Steel Awards
AISEC closes with a gala evening for government delegations, sponsors, exhibitors, nominees and media. Twelve categories are judged by an independent jury, with the Lifetime Achievement Award as the finale. Black tie or national dress.
November 2026
Nominations open
31 January 2027
Nominations close
February 2027
Shortlist of three per category
20 March 2027
Winners announced at the Gala
- Steel Producer of the Year
- Iron Ore Project of the Year
- Green Steel Pioneer Award
- Downstream Manufacturer of the Year
- Steel-Intensive Infrastructure Project of the Year
- Financier of the Year
- Technology & Innovation Award
- Trade Champion Award (AfCFTA)
- Women in Steel Leadership Award
- Young Steel Professional of the Year
- Host Country Excellence Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Plan your visit
Passes, visas and getting there
Arrive on Wednesday 17 March to collect your badge and join the Welcome Reception. Early-bird rates for paid passes run until 31 January 2027.
Pass types
- DelegatePaid
- African SME / Ethiopian ratePaid
- Government / DiplomaticComplimentary
- ExhibitorOn confirmation
- SpeakerOn confirmation
- MediaOn confirmation
- StudentOn confirmation
Visas
AU Protocol facilitates visas for official delegations through diplomatic channels and supports delegates using Ethiopia's e-visa system. Registration confirmations carry the AU invitation reference.
Accommodation and transport
Room blocks are being arranged at partner hotels in Addis Ababa, with shuttle loops to the African Union every 20 minutes from 07:00 to 22:00.
Interpretation
Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Arabic and Portuguese in the plenary hall and two track rooms. Printed and app content in English and French.
Catering
The event falls during the Ethiopian Orthodox Great Lent, so fasting (vegan), halal and vegetarian menus are standard. Ethiopian coffee ceremonies run in the Expo lounges.
Prayer and accessibility
Step-free access, reserved seating, prayer rooms, a quiet room and an on-site medical post. Friday carries an extended midday break for Jumu'ah prayers.
Altitude
Addis Ababa sits at about 2,355 metres. Allow for the altitude on arrival: drink plenty of water and plan a lighter first evening.
Organisers & partners
Convened under the African Union's roof
Africa Chamber of Iron and Steel Industry (ACISI)
Organiser
African Union Commission
Host institution
Africa International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AICCI)
Strategic partner
OttoCore Inc.
Event management
18–20 March 2027 | African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa
Join the continent's iron and steel value chain in Addis Ababa
Register as a delegate, or contact the team about exhibiting, sponsorship and the Deal Room.