AFEX

What AFEX does

AFEX (Africa Business Forum and Expo), organized by the Turkish joint stock company Caya Fuar ve Kongre A.Ş. under the operating brand of TABA (Turkish African Business Opportunities), is a B2B event platform that connects international — primarily Turkish — businesses with African buyers, distributors, and partners. The company was established as an AFEX-branded entity in 2023, building on TABA's 12 years of corporate experience and 200+ prior international events. AFEX operates an annual flagship Forum & Expo in Istanbul (with a new Premium Edition launching in May 2026) spanning 10-15 sectors including textile, agriculture, healthcare, IT, machinery, FMCG, automotive, education, furniture, energy, construction, manufacturing, financial services, mining, and defense, drawing 2,500+ delegates from 44 African and 75+ global countries across 15,000 m² of expo space.

The product surface consists of three commercial pathways — distributorship, franchise, and partnership opportunities — supported by B2B matchmaking services, pre-qualified buyer introductions, and pre-arranged executive meetings. The underlying technology is minimal: the company runs a Wix-hosted website (afextr.com) with online registration forms for exhibitors, visitors, and media, and social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook; no proprietary platform, software, or AI capabilities are indicated. The company maintains strategic partnerships with the Pullman Convention Center as venue and relationships with African embassies, the Turkish Ministry of Trade, TOBB, NACCIMA, and the EU-Africa, AFAZ, and AfroChamber trade bodies.

Revenue is generated through three discrete streams tied to event cycles: paid delegate participation packages ($849-$1,190 per person for 2-3 night full packages), exhibitor and booth fees, and sponsorship packages priced via direct sales. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and relationship-led, leveraging embassy networks, chamber of commerce partnerships, and direct outreach to drive attendance. The company operates with a 12-person team from its Beşiktaş, Istanbul headquarters and has not disclosed any external funding or institutional investment.

Name

AFEX

Legal name

Caya Fuar ve Kongre AŞ.

Website

https://afextr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFEX organizes the Africa Business Forum and Expo in Istanbul, a B2B trade event platform connecting international companies — primarily from Türkiye — with pre-qualified African buyers, distributors, and franchise partners through annual forums and matchmaking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Exhibitions

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent) (THAHACAF)

Keywords

• International trade exhibitions
• B2b matchmaking events
• Franchise distribution expos
• Africa trade forums
• Business networking expos

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

HQ country

Türkiye

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Participation Packages: AFEX generates revenue through paid participation packages for delegates attending the Africa Business Forum and Expo. Packages include Full Package 2-Night and Full Package 3-Night options at different price points for single and double occupancy, covering accommodation, meals, conference access, and networking events.
2. Exhibitor and Booth Fees: Companies pay fees to exhibit their products and services at the expo, with booth sizes available for customization. Registration forms indicate options for sponsor, exhibitor, and interested sector selections.
3. Sponsorship Packages: AFEX offers sponsorship opportunities allowing companies to showcase their brand to a global audience of entrepreneurs, business professionals, and prominent companies attending the event. Sponsorship benefits include exposure and access to the exclusive international audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFEX organizes annual trade exhibitions and investment forums in Istanbul, Türkiye, that connect international companies seeking African market entry with pre-qualified African buyers, distributors, franchisees, and partners. The core offering is structured around three service pathways—Distributorship, Franchise, and Partnership Opportunities—delivered through a flagship Forum & Expo (2,500+ delegates from 44 African and 75+ global countries) and a curated Premium Edition (350+ senior leaders), with revenue generated through delegate packages, exhibitor booth fees, and sponsorship.

Product overview

AFEX (Africa Business Forum and Expo) is a trade exhibition and exclusive investment forum organized by Turkish African Business Opportunities (TABA), operating as a platform for franchise, distributorship, and partnership opportunities between Africa and international markets. The core offering consists of the annual Africa Business Forum and Expo events held in Istanbul, Türkiye, complemented by Distributorship Services, Franchise Services, and Partnership Opportunities as the three main service pathways. Additional offerings include Exhibitor Registration, Visitor Registration, and sponsorship packages. The event covers multiple sectors including Textile, Agriculture, Healthcare, IT, Machinery, Food & FMCG, Automotive, Education, Furniture, Energy, Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Mining, and Defense. Events include the Premium Edition (intimate format for 350+ senior leaders) and the flagship Forum & Expo (2,500+ delegates from 44 African and 75+ global countries).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Africa Business Forum and Expo Annual flagship trade exhibition and exclusive investment forum held in Istanbul, Türkiye, serving as a global hub for business convergence, networking, investment, and sustainable partnerships between Africa and international markets. Focused on franchise, distributorship, and partnership opportunities across 10+ sectors.
• Distributorship Services Platform connecting businesses with strong production capabilities with strategic insight, offering opportunities for expansion across African markets through distributorship agreements, with brand visibility enhancement and customer service standards improvement.
• Franchise Services Ready-to-go business system including marketing, management, and branding support for franchise expansion into Africa; offers proven strategies for rapid financial growth with established brand recognition and proven business model to reduce startup risks.
• Partnership Opportunities Customized partnerships focused on conducting business with Africa, enabling local production, facilitating know-how transfer, and providing investment opportunities; supports technology and training transfer, management systems transfer, and mutual investment between African ventures and international companies.
• AFEX Premium Edition Curated customer- and network-focused format bringing together 350+ senior African and international business leaders in an exclusive deal-making setting; designed for franchise and distributorship agreements and direct contact with Türkiye's leading producers.
• AFEX Forum & Expo Flagship edition featuring 2,500+ delegates from 44 African and 75+ global countries, full sectoral exhibition halls, international ministerial delegations, conference panels, and pre-arranged executive meetings across fintech, agribusiness, smart infrastructure, and high-growth sectors.

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Turkish African Business Opportunities (TABA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TABA is the organizing organization behind AFEX, providing its pre-qualified partner network and 12 years of experience in international business events. TABA has organized more than 200 international events and maintains relationships with prestigious chambers of commerce and commissions across Africa. AFEX rebrands previous TABA events with a business-oriented perspective.
• NACCIMA (Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerDele Oye, President of NACCIMA participated in AFEX 2025, adding significant value to the program and strengthening dialogue between public and private sectors.
• EU-Africa Chamber of CommercemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSonia Toro, Executive Director of EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce participated in AFEX 2025, enhancing the event's international reach.
• Azerbaijan-Africa Cooperation Organization (AFAZ)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRena Qafarova, President of AFAZ participated in AFEX 2025, expanding the geographic representation at the event.
• Afro-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (AfroChamber)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWerner Trieloff, Senior Africa Representative of AfroChamber participated in AFEX 2025, bringing Brazilian-African business connections.
• Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMr. Yavuz Altun, Board Member of TOBB participated in AFEX 2025, representing Turkey's chamber network.
• Turkish Exporters AssemblymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMr. Özkan Altuntaş, Head of Foreign Relations and Activities Department participated in AFEX 2025, providing exporter connections.
• Embassy of South SudansupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHis Excellency Majok Guandong Thiep, Ambassador of South Sudan attended AFEX 2024, representing diplomatic support.
• Embassy of NigersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHis Excellency Adama Gazibo, Ambassador of Niger attended AFEX 2024.
• Embassy of NigeriasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHis Excellency Zayyad Habu Abdussalam, Ambassador of Nigeria attended AFEX 2024.
• Embassy of GhanasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHis Excellency Major General Nicholas Peter Andoh, Ambassador of Ghana attended AFEX 2024.
• Pullman Convention CentersupportingOthersVenue partner for the AFEX Africa Business Forum and Expo events in Istanbul, providing premium conference facilities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's largest trade fair organizers with a global portfolio including consumer goods, textiles, and ambitex events. It represents a broad incumbent against which AFEX competes for international exhibitor mindshare.
• Deutsche Messe (Hannover Messe): Deutsche Messe operates Hannover Messe and a global portfolio of industrial trade fairs. It is a broad incumbent trade show operator with deep experience in international B2B matchmaking, representing a potential template for AFEX's growth and a competitor in any industrial-sector Africa expo.

Regional players

• Türkel Fair Organization (Türkel Fuarcılık): Türkel is a major Turkish trade fair organizer running multiple sectoral expos in Istanbul. It is a regional peer competing for Istanbul venue slots, exhibitor attention, and the same Turkish institutional sponsorship pool that AFEX draws on.
• Anatolia Fair Organization: Anatolia is a Turkish trade fair organizer hosting multi-sectoral expos in Istanbul and across Türkiye. It is a regional peer competing for the same Istanbul venue ecosystem and the same Turkish exporter client base.

Direct peers

• GITEX Africa: GITEX Africa is a large-scale tech and startup exhibition in Morocco, organized under the GITEX Global brand. It competes for international exhibitors and African government sponsorship dollars in the Africa-focused trade event segment.
• Africa CEO Forum: Africa CEO Forum is a high-level business summit connecting African and international CEOs, investors, and government leaders. It targets the same senior decision-maker attendee base that AFEX courts for its Premium Edition.
• Franchise Expo (MFV Expositions): Franchise Expo is a leading international franchise exhibition series. It is a direct peer in AFEX's franchise service line, connecting prospective franchisees with established brands — a core AFEX pathway.
• Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF): IATF is the premier pan-African trade fair organized under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework. It directly competes for the same exhibitor and buyer base seeking Africa-focused B2B partnerships, with similar multi-sectoral coverage.
• Africa Trade & Investment Global Summit (ATIGS): ATIGS is a global Africa-anchored trade and investment summit. It targets a similar international audience seeking African market entry and B2B partnerships, positioning it as a direct peer to AFEX.

Others

• Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank is the institutional organizer of IATF and a major financier of Africa-anchored trade events. It shapes the institutional ecosystem in which AFEX operates and represents both a partner and a competitive anchor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AFEXTR
• Facebookfacebook.com/afex2024
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afextr
• Instagraminstagram.com/afexafricanbusinessforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFEX