CAATIF 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

About the Forum
Participation and Eligibility
Delegation and Group Participation
Programme and Format
Logistics and Travel
After the Forum
Contact and Further Information

About the Forum

CAATIF – the Canada–Africa Agri-Business Trade & Investment Forum – is the first forum of its kind, bringing together senior Canadian agri-food and agri-business leaders with West African counterparts for structured, commercially-focused dialogue. It takes place on 29 – 30 June in Accra, Ghana. The forum is hosted by MEDA, an international economic development organisation with over 70 years of experience advancing inclusive economic growth, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through the GROWII project, and delivered in partnership with The Asili Initiative and Trade Facilitation Office Canada.
Accra is home to the AfCFTA Secretariat – the body overseeing the African Continental Free Trade Area, which spans 54 countries and represents a combined GDP of $3 trillion. It is also one of West Africa's most stable, open, and investment-ready markets. For a forum focused on Canada–West Africa agri-food engagement, there was no more fitting location.
CAATIF is hosted by MEDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through the GROWII project, and delivered in partnership with The Asili Initiative and Trade Facilitation Office Canada. Representatives from the AfCFTA Secretariat will also be present at the forum, where they will share their vision for continental agri-food trade and how it aligns with CAATIF's agenda.
Yes. CAATIF 2026 is the inaugural edition, and it is designed to be the first in an ongoing series. Future editions covering other African regions — including East Africa — are already being explored.

Participation and Eligibility

CAATIF is an invite-only forum. It is deliberately kept curated – this is not a large open conference. Every delegate is vetted to ensure the cohort is focused, commercially relevant, and worth everyone's time in the room.
Invitations are being extended directly to senior executives and organisations whose profile aligns with the forum's objectives. If you believe your organisation is a strong fit and you have not yet received an invitation, you are welcome to express interest through the matchmaking form on caatif.com/apply. Our team will review your profile and be in touch.
Nothing. CAATIF is a fully hosted, invite-only forum with no registration fee.
Hotel accommodation for up to five nights in Accra is provided for a select number of confirmed invited delegates, as part of MEDA's commitment to supporting meaningful participation from the cohort it has curated. Organisations sending additional representatives are welcome to do so, with accommodation for those individuals coordinated independently.
Flights are not covered. Delegates are responsible for arranging and funding their own travel to and from Accra.
We strongly encourage full attendance across both days. The programme, including pre-matched meetings is structured across the full two days, and many of the most valuable conversations happen in the spaces between formal sessions. That said, if your schedule only allows for one day, please reach out to our team and we will do our best to work with you.
CAATIF is a professional forum and attendance is limited to registered delegates. Non-professional guests are not able to attend sessions or events.

Delegation and Group Participation

Yes. If you would like to send more than one representative, please submit a proposed delegation list, including each person's name, title, company, and the sector or mandate they will be representing, for review and approval by MEDA before official invitations are issued. Accommodation is covered for one delegate per organisation only.
There is no fixed cap, but all delegates are subject to the same vetting and approval process. Quality of fit matters more than numbers.
Yes, subject to approval. Please reach out to us directly at info@asiliinitiative.com to discuss how your organisation's participation can be structured.

Programme and Format

Once registered, delegates will be asked to complete a matchmaking form covering their commercial profile, sector focus, and objectives for attending. Our team uses this information to pre-match you with the most relevant counterparts, so you arrive with meetings already set up rather than starting from scratch.
The deadline for completing the matchmaking form will be communicated to confirmed delegates with their official registration confirmation. We recommend completing it as early as possible – the earlier we receive your profile, the better your matches will be.
The forum spans the agri-food value chain broadly – crop inputs, precision agriculture, cold chain logistics, irrigation, renewable energy for agriculture, cocoa and commodity sourcing, food processing, grain handling, and trade finance. If your sector is not listed but you believe there is a strong fit, please get in touch and we will advise.
Bring plenty of business cards – introductions are a core part of the programme. A short company or organisation profile that you can share with counterparts is also highly recommended. Delegates will receive a full preparation guide closer to the event.
The forum will be conducted primarily in English. If you have specific language requirements, please flag them when completing your registration and we will do our best to accommodate.
Business attire is appropriate for all sessions. Given Accra's warm climate, business casual – smart but breathable – is perfectly acceptable and practical.
Yes. Please indicate any dietary requirements or restrictions when completing the registration section of your matchmaking form and we will ensure they are accommodated.

Logistics and Travel

Canadian citizens currently require a visa to enter Ghana and should apply well in advance of June 30. West African delegates should check the entry requirements applicable to their nationality.
Accra operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), with no daylight-saving adjustment. That puts it five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET) during the summer months.
We recommend arriving in Accra by June 28 at the latest. This gives you time to settle in, attend any pre-forum networking, and arrive at the opening session on June 29 well-rested and ready.
We recommend departing on July 1 or later. The forum concludes on June 30 and there is often meaningful follow-up conversation in the final hours.
Late June falls within Ghana's minor rainy season. Temperatures are warm, typically between 24°C and 30°C, with occasional short rain showers. Light, breathable clothing works well – and a compact umbrella is worth packing.
The Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) is the local currency. US dollars are widely accepted at hotels and many businesses. We recommend carrying cash in the local currency for smaller purchases, and your card for larger ones. More detail will be included in the delegate briefing pack.
Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Ghana. Additional vaccinations – including hepatitis A, typhoid, and malaria prophylaxis – are strongly recommended. Please consult your healthcare provider or a travel medicine clinic well in advance of departure. Our delegate briefing pack will include health guidance, but please do not leave this to the last minute.
Ghana is consistently regarded as one of West Africa's most stable, welcoming, and visitor-friendly countries. As with any international travel, standard precautions apply. Our team will provide a full delegate briefing pack ahead of travel, including practical safety guidance and emergency contacts.

After the Forum

Post-forum follow-through is built into the design from the start, not added as an afterthought. The Asili Initiative, in partnership with MEDA's enterprise development infrastructure and TFO Canada's trade facilitation networks are specifically oriented toward supporting delegates in moving the introductions and conversations made at the forum into active commercial relationships, supply agreements, and next steps.
Yes. CAATIF 2026 is the first, and the intention is for it to grow into an ongoing platform covering different African regions. An East Africa edition is already being explored.

Contact and Further Information

Drop us a line at events@asiliinitiative.com. A member of the organising team will respond.