UNIDO Invest in ACP

14/10/2026

🌍🏭 UNIDO strengthens industrial project development and investment in | How can stronger project preparation translate into more investment opportunities?

From 5 to 9 October, UNIDO’s EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme brought together 22 representatives from government ministries and national agencies in Yaoundé for training on Investment Project Preparation and Appraisal (IPPA), the Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR 4), and using UNIDO's Digital Investment Promotion Solutions (DIPS) to structure Investment Opportunity Profiles (IOPs).

The workshop engaged representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Ministère des Mines, de l'Industrie et du Développement Technologique (MINMIDT), Ministère des PME de l'Economie Sociale et de l'Artisanat (MINPMEESA), the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), the Ministry of Agriculture (MINADER), the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) Investment Promotion Agency of Cameroon, the Cameroon Industrial Zones Development and Management Authority (MAGZI), the Agency for the Promotion of SMEs (APME), the Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange (BSTP), the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM) and the Council for the Support of Public-Private Partnership Contracts (CARPA).

🤝 The mission also advanced discussions on industrial development and investment through:

🔹 Building national capacities: Training on industrial project appraisal and public-private partnership (PPP) preparation, with participants calling for further training and wider adoption of UNIDO’s tools.
🔹 Developing industrial zones: Discussions with government counterparts on wood industry clusters, the Bertoua Timber Special Economic Zone, technical assistance for MAGZI and a potential national programme for industrial zone development.
🔹 Strengthening financing partnerships: Meetings with the World Bank Group (WBG), the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to explore cooperation, financing opportunities and support for bankable industrial projects.

By strengthening project preparation and fostering partnerships between national institutions and development finance partners, UNIDO is supporting Cameroon’s efforts to mobilize investment and advance sustainable industrial development.

|

06/10/2026

The UNIDO Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit is pleased to support UNIDO ITPO Tokyo bolster investment promotion, knowledge sharing, communication and business contact follow-up within the CARICOM Delegate Programme funded by the Government of Japan.

This initiative is fully synergetic with the work previously undertaken in support of the Caribbean region’s business climate and investment promotion efforts within the EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme.

Explore investment data about all participating countries here: https://txa.my.canva.site/invest-in-the-caribbean

05/10/2026

🌍 Calling African food and beverage companies: Join UNIDO at Anuga FoodTec 2027!

Are you looking to modernize your production, expand capacity, access new technologies, enter new markets or connect with potential investors and business partners?

is inviting senior decision-makers from food and beverage companies across Africa to apply for the UNIDO Delegate Programme at Anuga FoodTec 2027, taking place in Cologne, Germany, from 23–26 February 2027.

Selected delegates will benefit from:
🔹 Entry to Anuga FoodTec 2027
🔹 Bespoke B2B meetings with technology providers and exhibitors
🔹 Site visits and networking opportunities
🔹 Accommodation and local transportation
🔹 A preparatory webinar and post-trade show follow-up support

Participation can be combined with attendance at the 5th International Conference on Separation and Drying Technologies for Milk, Whey and Vegan Sources, at a reduced ticket price.

The programme particularly welcomes applications from companies in the dairy and fortified complementary foods sectors, as well as women-led and women-owned businesses.

👉 Learn more and apply now to connect with international technology providers, investors and business partners at one of the leading global food and beverage technology trade shows: 🔗 https://txa.my.canva.site/unido-anuga-call

📅 Application deadline: 31 October 2026

The initiative is implemented within the German-African Integrated Programme on Trade Shows, funded by the Government of , and complements UNIDO’s wider efforts under the EU-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme to strengthen investment and business linkages across Africa and other ACP markets.

30/09/2026

📣 Just published: the UNIDO ACP Business-Friendly Newsletter | January–August 2026.

Discover the latest updates, activities and results from the EU- and OACPS-funded programme supporting investment promotion and a more business-friendly environment across ACP countries.

📩 Read the newsletter and subscribe for future updates: https://unido-investment-platform.kit.com/posts/unido-acp-business-friendly-newsletter-january-august-2026

Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

Subscribe for updates about the UNIDO-led meso-level component of the ACP Business-Friendly Programme, funded by the European Union & the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).

29/09/2026

🌴 18 investment opportunities. 9 Caribbean countries. One shared ambition: connecting Caribbean businesses with the right investors and partners. 🤝

Ahead of the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026 taking place 5-7 October in Barbados, UNIDO through the EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly programme, has been working closely with project promoters and enterprises across the Caribbean to help turn promising business projects into clear, investor-facing opportunities.*

In partnership with CIF and the Caribbean Export Development Agency, supported companies through the process of reviewing and refining their project propositions over the past few months, structuring key investment information, clarifying financing and partnership needs, and preparing dedicated materials to showcase their opportunities to potential investors.

The result is a portfolio of 18 investment projects from , , , , , , , , and , covering areas including digital transformation, sustainable agriculture, logistics and transportation, and the green economy transition.

And the work does not stop at preparation.

At CIF2026, these companies will have dedicated promotional materials to help them communicate their projects, investment requirements and preferred forms of partnership, and to support conversations with potential investors, financiers and strategic partners.

From project preparation to investor outreach, this is what investment promotion support is about: helping businesses get investment-ready and creating stronger connections between Caribbean opportunities and international capital.

🚀 18 projects. 9 countries. New opportunities to connect at CIF2026 👉 https://investment.unido.org/ACP/projects?cif2026=137

*Please note: this does not imply endorsement or a recommendation to invest, which carries financial risks.

23/09/2026

🌍 UNIDO is pleased to support the Africa Exhibition Forum (AEF) 2026 as a Strategic Partner under the German-African Trade Show Project, alongside Exhibit Africa, jwc, and UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.

Taking place in Nairobi in December, AEF 2026 will bring together exhibition industry stakeholders, governments and business leaders to explore how Africa’s trade-show and exhibition markets can grow and contribute to stronger business connections, investment and economic development.

As part of our engagement, will present the results of a first-of-its-kind survey covering the African trade show and exhibition landscape jointly with our project partner, jwc. It will also organize a tailored workshop covering practical insights into how trade shows in Africa can position themselves for growth and attract more international exhibitors.

We look forward to connecting with industry partners and stakeholders in Nairobi and contributing to the conversation on the future of Africa’s exhibition sector.

📍 Nairobi, Kenya | 4-5 December 2026
Learn more about the Forum: https://exhibitionglobe.com/latest-news/africa-exhibition-forum-2026/
Sign-up for Delegates: https://www.liveet.co/e/B8SR8E

The Strategic Partnership and Forum also complement UNIDO’s work under the EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme, supporting investment promotion agencies and institutions across Africa in strengthening business and investment facilitation, promoting investment opportunities and connecting businesses with potential partners and investors.

21/09/2026

🌍 Calling African food and beverage companies: Join UNIDO at Anuga FoodTec 2027!

Are you looking to modernize your production, expand capacity, access new technologies, enter new markets or connect with potential investors and business partners?

UNIDO is inviting senior decision-makers from food and beverage companies across Africa to apply for the UNIDO Delegate Programme at Anuga FoodTec 2027, taking place in Cologne, Germany, from 23–26 February 2027.

Selected delegates will benefit from:
🔹 Entry to Anuga FoodTec 2027
🔹 Bespoke B2B meetings with technology providers and exhibitors
🔹 Site visits and networking opportunities
🔹 Accommodation and local transportation
🔹 A preparatory webinar and post-trade show follow-up support

Participation can be combined with attendance at the 5th International Conference on Separation and Drying Technologies for Milk, Whey and Vegan Sources, at a reduced ticket price.
The programme particularly welcomes applications from companies in the dairy and fortified complementary foods sectors, as well as women-led and women-owned businesses.

👉 Apply now and connect with international technology providers, investors and business partners at one of the leading global food and beverage technology trade shows.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4ySeCW8
📅 Application deadline: 31 October 2026

The initiative is implemented within the German-African Integrated Programme on Trade Shows, funded by the Government of Germany, and complements UNIDO’s wider efforts under the EU- and OACPS-funded ACP Business-Friendly Programme to strengthen investment and business linkages across Africa and other ACP markets.

16/09/2026

An investor searching for a site in Africa can only consider the zones they can find — and only trust the information they can verify.

That is the gap the African SEZ Profiling Initiative was built to close. Weeks after the July UNIDO-AEZO webinar, the African SEZ Profiling Initiative is moving beyond onboarding into a broader effort to update and expand Africa's zone profiles: https://bit.ly/4zuJJYL

There is already a foundation to build on. SEZ and industrial park profiles reviewed and approved through earlier UNIDO initiatives are live on the UNIDO Investment Mapping Tool: https://bit.ly/4hJYalx

The task now is to keep that information current, and to bring more zones onto the map.

SEZs evolve. Infrastructure gets built, tenants move in, sector focus shifts and new plots open up. Institutions whose zones are already represented are invited to revisit their profilesand reflect where their zone stands today. At the same time, SEZ authorities, industrial park operators, investment promotion agencies and relevant ministries not yet represented can join the initiative and build their profiles on DIPS.

In both cases, profiles remain unpublished until the institution responsible has reviewed and validated the information. Control stays with the institution, while investors gain access to information checked by the source.

Is your zone on the map — and up to date?

🧑‍💻 Join the African SEZ Profiling Initiative: https://bit.ly/4xVe2GH

📅 The UNIDO–AEZO team will continue to support participating institutions with onboarding, profile review, validation and updates. Institutions that would prefer to work through their profile directly with the team can book a one-to-one session: https://bit.ly/4hJYjp5

This is not a one-off profiling exercise. The goal is to maintain and progressively expand an institutionally validated information base through which Africa's economic zones can present current information on their locations, industrial capabilities and investment opportunities.

Implemented within
, funded by the
and the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States ( ).

07/09/2026

🌴 Strengthening investment partnerships for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) | UNIDO was pleased to participate in the SIDS Global Business Network Forum / Island Investment Forum 2026, held in Malé, Maldives, from 23 to 25 August.

Organized by UN - OHRLLS and inaugurated by H.E. Dr. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives, the Forum brought together governments, businesses, investors and development partners to explore how stronger private-sector engagement can drive sustainable and resilient growth across SIDS.

UNIDO’s participation highlighted the importance of investment promotion, facilitation and matchmaking in translating the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) into concrete action.

In his opening remarks, Cristiano Pasini, Director and UNIDO Representative to India, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in advancing sustainable development in SIDS.

During the SIDS Solutions Showcases, Federico Podano of UNIDO’s Sustainable Investments and Responsible Business Unit presented the experience of the ACP Business-Friendly Programme, funded by the EU and the OACPS, highlighting how Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) can connect investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers and strengthen investment ecosystems.

The presentation showcased UNIDO’s work to strengthen IPA capacities, develop investment opportunities, facilitate FDI and enable investment matchmaking through UNIDO’s Digital Investment Promotion Solutions (DIPS).

🤝 Partnerships were at the heart of the Forum
A particular focus was UNIDO’s collaboration with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) consolidated over the past 4 years of ACP BF Programme implementation and renewed again this year for the upcoming Caribbean Investment Forum 2026: https://caribbeaninvestmentforum.com/. Through this partnership, UNIDO and CEDA have supported Caribbean entrepreneurs with project validation and assessment, investment-readiness assistance and pitch coaching, helping promising investment opportunities gain greater visibility with prospective investors.

The Forum also provided an opportunity to explore productive sectors in the Maldives through field visits, including to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO). The visit highlighted how sustainably sourced and export-oriented yellowfin tuna can support local value addition, employment and economic diversification, offering a practical example of resilient and inclusive growth in an island economy.

As we look ahead to the Caribbean Investment Forum 2026, we look forward to continuing our collaboration with CEDA and Executive Director Damie Sinanan, and to seeing several of the projects supported through this joint initiative presented to investors and business leaders from across the region and beyond.

🌍 Strong partnerships can help turn investment opportunities into sustainable development outcomes for SIDS.

28/07/2026

🎥 Webinar Replay – AEZO x UNIDO

We are pleased to share key moments from the recent AEZO x UNIDO Digital Tutorial Webinar on “Introduction to UNIDO’s Digital Investment Promotion Solutions (DIPS)”.

This session brought together African SEZ Authorities, Ministry representatives, IPA/IPI staff, AEZO members and partners to explore how the DIPS platform can support SEZ profile management, data validation, investment promotion, and FDI intelligence across the continent.

🌍 As we move forward, AEZO remains committed to advancing the African SEZ Profiling Initiative, strengthening digital transformation, and enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of Africa’s Special Economic Zones.

📺 In case you were unable to attend the live session, the full replay is available here: 🎥 Webinar Replay – AEZO x UNIDO
We are pleased to share key moments from the recent AEZO x UNIDO Digital Tutorial Webinar on “Introduction to UNIDO’s Digital Investment Promotion Solutions (DIPS)”.

This session brought together African SEZ Authorities, Ministry representatives, IPA/IPI staff, AEZO members and partners to explore how the DIPS platform can support SEZ profile management, data validation, investment promotion, and FDI intelligence across the continent.

🌍 As we move forward, AEZO remains committed to advancing the African SEZ Profiling Initiative, strengthening digital transformation, and enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of Africa’s Special Economic Zones.

📺 In case you were unable to attend the live session, the full replay is available here: https://youtu.be/qN6lk6dgCCw