Hot!
South Africa’s Business Events Showcased at IBTM World 2023 in Barcelona, Spain
For any destination to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving global industry, it is essential to enhance brand awareness.
This is why South Africa’s business events sector participated in the prestigious IBTM (Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings) World, currently being held in Barcelona, Spain.
As the biggest event in the global business events industry, IBTM World – held from November 28 to 30 2023 – provided a unique platform for engagement, connection, and business interactions.
Known for its networking opportunities, IBTM World events included educational sessions highlighting the latest trends and innovations in the industry.
In addition to that, IBTM World is essential for professionals seeking insights and new contacts in the global business events market.
The Team South Africa delegation strongly represented various sectors, including provincial tourism authorities, destination management companies, tour operators, and accommodation providers.
This ensured that South Africa’s business events industry was showcased in its entirety and that focus was placed on the country’s capacity to host world-class events.
Iconic conference centres and provincial convention bureaux such as the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC), Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau, Gauteng Convention & Events Bureau, Sandton Treeway Centre / Hotel Sky, Vineyard Hotel, Century City Conference Centre and Hotels, Into Africa, and Radisson Hospitality South Africa are amongst the products sending a strong message to the world that South Africa is capable and ready to host business events of varying sizes, needs and purposes.
South Africa’s participation at IBTM World comes as the country prepares to host the Meetings Africa 2024 conference in February. Meetings Africa is a leading trade show in the conference, exhibition, and meetings sector on the African continent.
“As we cast our eyes to Meetings Africa in February next year, our presence at IBTM World underscores our dedication to positioning South Africa as a leading global destination for business events. We are not only using this opportunity to invite the global business events industry to come to South Africa and to share in our diverse offerings, our state-of-the-art conference venues and facilities, but we are also inviting them to come and experience our rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes and to meet our warm, highly knowledgeable and welcoming South Africans,” said Zinhle Nzama, Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer at South African Tourism, emphasising the strategic importance of this participation.
As a formidable business events destination, South Africa has a long history of hosting successful events, said Nzama, speaking at the IBTM World 2023.
“South Africa recently hosted significant international events, the 15th BRICS Summit, which attracted over 30 heads of state, thus reinforcing our status as a global influencer.”
She emphasised that in addition to South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes and excellent conference venues and accommodation establishments, the warmth and welcoming nature of South Africans is the country’s greatest asset.
“In every corner of our country, from the bustling streets of our vibrant cities to the serene safaris, you will find a common thread, and that is the open-heartedness and welcoming nature of South Africans. The warmth of the South African people is always at the forefront and is evident in all our international conferences and business events. Moreover, this warmth translates into an exceptional service ethos, particularly evident in our tourism and hospitality sector,” Nzama added
At IBTM World, South African exhibitors engaged in pre-scheduled face-to-face meetings with targeted potential partners, associations, and other representatives interested in learning more about South Africa and fostering meaningful connections and business opportunities. Team South Africa sought to source high-quality business event leads, furthering ambitions to contribute to the country’s economy.
Nzama stated, “IBTM World is more than just an exhibition; it is a catalyst for growth and innovation in the business events industry. South African Tourism’s involvement in this event forms part of a cohesive strategy to ensure a coordinated approach to industry representation at such global platforms, which is crucial for our success.”
Since the start of the 2023/24 fiscal year, Nzama revealed that the SANCB has submitted 63 bids for international business events hosted in South Africa between 2023 and 2029.
These bids, with a combined estimated economic impact of R1.2 billion, “reflect our commitment to attracting significant business events that align with the National Government’s development priorities, in which tourism plays a catalytic role.”
South African Tourism’s presence at IBTM World 2023 “is a testament to our unwavering commitment to promoting South Africa as a premier business events destination. We invite industry professionals and delegates to explore our offerings and engage with us as we continue to position South Africa as a leader in the global MICE market,” Nzama concluded.
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, signed five bills including three amendment bills passed by Parliament into law.
They are: Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025; University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Bill, 2025; Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In a brief remark after assenting to the bills, President Mahama explained that the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, scraps the Office of Minister of National Security and frees the President’s to appoint any Minister to supervise the security agencies.
He said it also reverses the name of the office of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to the original name, Bureau of National Intelligence, (BNI).
This the President said, addresses the confusion between that security agency and a well-known Ghanaian financial institution, the National Investment Bank.
President Mahama also noted that the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, establishes another University in the Eastern Region, at Bonsu, with three campuses – the main campus at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, with the second campus to be cited at Ohawu in the Oti Region.
The third, the Presdient assed will be located at Acherensua in the Ahafo Region.
Touching on the Amendment to the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, the President said, “As you’re aware, the act was amended to increase it from 1% to 3%, and so this act reduces it again. That is the levy on mining companies. It reduces it again to 1%, because of the introduction of the sliding scale of royalties.”
He also spoke to the passage of the Government Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Act, emphasising that amends Act 1023 to grant greater flexibility to private tertiary institutions and the option to Charter.
The Ghana Deposit Protection Amendment Act, the President concluded, is an amendment to an original act that was supposed to guarantee deposits held in commercial banks or financial institutions.
It basically expands protection to include mobile money wallets and other digital platforms, ensuring a wider scope of digital financial assets are secured.
The signing ceremony, was witnessed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akrutinga Ayine, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a Senior Presidential Advisor and a Special Aide to the President, Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, and the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
