Africa is No Longer a Market to Watch - It's a Market to Build With": Industry Leaders Declare at Landmark Forex Expo:

CPA Zack Kiratu, Director of Azelia Expo Ltd, addressing participants.

NAIROBI, Kenya - March 10, 2026, George Mutua:

Day One of Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026 draws hundreds of traders, brokers and fintech innovators as experts chart the future of mobile trading, AI, and blockchain convergence in African markets

The inaugural Africa Forex Trading Expo 2026 opened today at the Sarit Expo Centre with a powerful declaration that resonated through the halls: Africa has arrived as a force to be reckoned with in global financial markets. Hundreds of forex traders, brokers, fintech innovators, Payment Service Providers, and financial educators gathered for the first day of the two-day event, themed "Smart Money, Smart Africa; The Future of Forex & Digital Trading."

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as industry leaders set a bold, collaborative tone for the continent's financial future.

"We are opening a gateway to the future of finance in Africa," declared CPA Zack Kiratu, Director of Azelia Expo Ltd, in his powerful opening remarks. "Across this continent, something extraordinary is happening. Millions of young, tech-savvy Africans are entering the global financial markets. Fintech innovation is accelerating. Digital payments are transforming economies, and a new generation of traders, entrepreneurs and builders is stepping forward to shape the financial systems of tomorrow."

Kiratu captivated the audience with a bold assertion that would become the mantra for the day: "Africa is no longer just a market to watch. Africa is a market to build with. Africa is a market to invest in, and Africa is a market that will help define the future of global finance."

A central theme of Day One was the transformative potential of mobile trading for a continent leapfrogging traditional financial infrastructure. Panelists in the "Mobile Trading and Africa's Digital Leap" session explored how increasing smartphone penetration is democratizing access to global markets like never before.

"The most amazing thing about trading is that we all have equal opportunities and you can do it from anywhere," said panelist Ali, highlighting the accessibility that mobile platforms offer African traders, even in remote areas.

Kiratu reinforced this vision of a mobile-first future, stating simply, "The future is in mobile trading."

However, Sheila, speaking on mobile payments infrastructure, provided a critical reality check for innovators in the space. "You can build the best trading app in the whole world. But if your users are having a challenge to access their money or make deposits or refund their wallets, then it is of no use." Her comments underscored the vital, often overlooked, role that robust Payment Service Providers play in enabling seamless and trustworthy trading experiences across the continent's diverse financial landscapes.

The day's keynote address came from Joao Campos of Empire FX, who shared insights from building EFX Lite, the company's retail trading platform. His presentation, titled "Designing Trading for Real Behaviour," challenged the conventional focus on education alone.

"People don't make decisions rationally. They respond to design," Campos told the attentive audience, explaining that successful trading platforms must be architected to guide user behaviour. He emphasized that "systems are designed to stay ahead," highlighting the responsibility platforms have in building interfaces that encourage disciplined trading rather than impulsive, emotional reactions.

For traders seeking an edge, the session on "Monetary Policy Shifts and Their Cross-Border Impact on Currency Markets" provided crucial insights into the macroeconomic forces driving forex movements.

"When interest rates increase, it usually means that there are higher returns. And normally, when there are higher returns, money tends to flow where there are higher returns. So this movement is what is one of the main drivers of the currency markets," explained Christine, breaking down complex monetary policy concepts into actionable intelligence for retail traders.

Nick added another layer to the discussion, pointing out that the key drivers are the pursuit of "higher returns and safer yields, and as well as something we call the carry trade." The session equipped attendees with practical frameworks for understanding how central bank decisions in major economies ripple through to African currency pairs.

One of the most anticipated sessions explored the often-fractious intersection of traditional forex and the emerging crypto ecosystem. The panel on "Crypto, Forex and Stablecoins: Competition or Convergence?" delivered a clear and resounding verdict: the future lies in seamless integration.

"You'll find that everyone has a stable token, and it is integrated in all trade aspects. So then inflation will go down because you're no longer operating locally. It's already standardized and global," said Vincent, pointing to stablecoins as the crucial bridge between traditional and decentralized finance.

Joseph brought a user-centric perspective that grounded the discussion in reality. "In 10 years, or even right now, users don't care about the technology that is under it. What they care about is if I'm sending money to Nigeria, this money is sent instantly."

Seth outlined a pragmatic path forward for traditional forex players, urging them not to abandon their core business but to upgrade their infrastructure. "We don't want to say that Forex will leave what they're doing currently to come to crypto, to come to blockchain, but their systems should be working on a chain. Our systems in the FX space can be done on-chain, in the blockchain. Because that is the new innovation that is happening." He concluded by emphasizing the unifying force: "Both of them can be different, but what brings us together is the stablecoins."

Beyond the high-level panel discussions, Day One featured intensive practical sessions designed to empower attendees with tangible skills. Empire FX delivered a standing-room-only masterclass on "Click, Copy, Trade? How to Use Copy Trading the Right Way - Not a Shortcut," addressing the growing popularity and potential pitfalls of social trading platforms. Xelans Markets led a session on "Scaling as a Forex Entrepreneur," providing roadmaps for ambitious traders looking to build sustainable businesses.

The day also featured panels on "The Rise of AI in Forex Trading," exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping trading strategies. Workshops on broker selection and professional accreditation drew significant attendance from traders seeking to professionalize their practice.

An exclusive, invitation-only Executive Session, "The Forex Room: Decision Frameworks for Institutional FX Governance," brought together institutional players and regulators for high-level, closed-door discussions on market structure and oversight.

As the exhibition hall closed, the conversations continued into the evening at an invitation-only Gala Dinner hosted by Main Sponsor Empire FX. The event, attended by 250 industry leaders, sponsors, and VIP guests, provided a premium networking opportunity and set the stage for Day Two's continued programming.

The expo continues tomorrow, March 11 with a diverse range of sessions including "From Guesswork to Strategy: How Beginners Can Build a Trading System," "Women Shaping the Forex, Crypto and Fintech Industry," and "Trading Rails of Africa: The Fintech & PSP Infrastructure Powering FX Payments." iQuoto will also lead a masterclass on risk management strategies for retail traders.

Reflecting on the resounding success of the first day, CPA Zack Kiratu told journalists, "The energy here today has been incredible, but it's more than just excitement. There is a real sense of purpose. The conversations that begin here at Africa Forex Trading Expo have the power to influence the next chapter of forex and fintech across this continent."