Casablanca will host the inaugural edition of Industrial Transformation Africa (ITAF) 2026 from September 29 to October 1, bringing together global technology companies, manufacturers, investors and African industrial decision-makers to accelerate smart manufacturing and industrial transformation across the continent.
The three-day event, to be held at the Casablanca International Fairgrounds (OFEC), marks the first time the international industrial platform will be hosted in Morocco.
Organizers said ITAF is designed to connect global technological expertise with the growing needs and ambitions of industrial ecosystems in Morocco and across Africa, bringing manufacturers, technology providers, policymakers, institutions, investors and buyers together around next-generation industrial technologies.
The event is part of the HANNOVER MESSE ecosystem, extending the international industrial network and expertise of one of the world’s leading industrial trade fair platforms into Africa.
Organizers said ITAF aims to go beyond a conventional trade exhibition by establishing a long-term platform linking African industry with a global network of manufacturers, technology providers and industrial innovators.
Under the theme “Connecting Africa’s Industries… Building Tomorrow,” ITAF will showcase technologies driving the transformation of modern manufacturing, including robotics and automation, digital manufacturing and artificial intelligence, smart intralogistics and supply-chain management, motion and drive systems, compressed-air and vacuum technologies, and smart energy solutions.
A major focus will be on strengthening business links through a hosted-buyer programme and B2B matchmaking platform. The inaugural edition is expected to bring together around 100 qualified hosted buyers and industrial decision-makers, providing exhibitors with direct access to professionals involved in procurement, technology, supply-chain and investment decisions.
The hosted-buyer network will cover Morocco and Tunisia as well as several West and Central African markets, including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Guinea, Togo and Benin.
Through targeted business-to-business meetings, the programme will facilitate discussions on sourcing, distribution, technology partnerships and long-term industrial cooperation.
The choice of Morocco as the venue for ITAF’s first African edition reflects the country’s growing role as an industrial and trade hub linking Africa with Europe and the Middle East.
Morocco has developed significant industrial capabilities in automotive manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, food processing, textiles, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, supported by major logistics and industrial infrastructure and an extensive network of international trade relations.
Casablanca, Morocco’s main economic, financial and industrial centre, is expected to serve as a key meeting point between international technology providers and African manufacturers seeking new technologies, partnerships and investment opportunities.
Through the launch of ITAF in Morocco, the HANNOVER MESSE ecosystem is seeking to create a dedicated gateway connecting international industrial expertise with African markets while giving companies across the continent broader access to technology, knowledge and global industrial networks.
Leading industrial and technology companies, including Efaflex, Festo, Getriebebau Nord, ifm electronic, igus, MEA Pulse, Metronelec-Universal Robots, OCP Maintenance Solutions, R2T Industrie-Epson, Siemens, WIKA and Wilo, are expected to showcase their latest technologies, smart-manufacturing solutions and next-generation automation systems.
The event will also feature a joint “Team Germany” pavilion, bringing together AHK Morocco, GIZ, Fraunhofer and KfW to showcase German technology, applied research and sustainable industrial solutions for Africa’s manufacturing sector.
Knowledge exchange will be a central component of ITAF 2026 through the Industrial Edge Summit, the event’s main conference platform.
The three-day summit will bring together industrial executives, technology experts, manufacturers, institutions and academics to examine the future of African industry and the practical implementation of industrial transformation.
Discussions will focus on artificial intelligence in industry, Industry 4.0, industrial connectivity, energy and sustainability, cybersecurity in manufacturing, the Industrial Internet of Things and human capital development in the Industry 4.0 era.
The conference will also highlight real-world industrial applications and factory case studies, seeking to bridge the gap between technologies showcased at ITAF and the operational challenges facing manufacturers.
Organizers said the objective is not only to introduce professionals to emerging technologies but also to demonstrate how they can be applied to improve manufacturing processes, productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
Skills development will form another key pillar of the event through the Smart Factory Academy Casablanca, designed for manufacturers, engineers, industrial professionals and future industry specialists.
The academy will focus on smart manufacturing, industrial automation, digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies, with the aim of helping bridge the gap between identifying emerging technologies and developing the skills required to deploy them in real industrial environments.
Organizers said ITAF seeks to turn international expertise and the HANNOVER MESSE network into sustainable local knowledge and scalable industrial capabilities.
The initiative is also intended to develop into a year-round industrial ecosystem, allowing knowledge exchange, technology transfer, skills development and business networking to continue beyond the three-day exhibition.
By combining an international industrial technology exhibition with high-level industry dialogue, professional training and structured B2B matchmaking, Industrial Transformation Africa 2026 aims to position Casablanca as a meeting point between the global industrial technology community and Africa’s expanding manufacturing opportunities.
The inaugural ITAF is being organized in cooperation with Smart Expos & Events Morocco, with UNIDO and GMAI serving as strategic partners. Turkish Machinery and GSMA are participating as sponsors, while CE3M Maroc, R&D Maroc and TEAM Henri-Fabre are technology partners, alongside AMCA, FMIIP, MTI and WPTA.
