Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Friday - Saturday
August 13 – 14
WHY MAIIS?
Because a summit should produce something
MAIIS is built around one question: what can actually happen because the right people were in the right room, around the right opportunity?
That means less ceremony and more purposeful engagement — curated B2B meetings, business-to-government meetings, investment presentations, sector roundtables, deal rooms, and real partnership development.
THE PLATFORM
An Inaugural Summit, Built at a Defined Scale.
Year One targets. We publish results against every one of them.
1,000
Target delegates
Corporate, government, investor and diaspora leadership
3 – 5
African government delegations
Ministries, investment and trade promotion
agencies
300+
Curated deal-room meetings
Pre-screened, pre-matched and scheduled before arrival
60+
Exhibitors
Midwest industry, African enterprises and country pavilions
5 + 1
Sector pillars + diaspora capital
Manufacturing, logistics, food, health,
workforce
2
Days · August 13 & 14, 2027
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
THE CORRIDOR CASE
Ohio Sells to the World. Africa is the Missing Market.
~50%
of the U.S. population is within a one-day truck drive of Columbus, plus a third of Canada’s
$10B+
In goods moved through Foreign-Trade Zone 138 at Rickenbacker in
2023
$57.2B
Ohio goods exports in 2024, with 36.2% going to a single market:
Canada
1.4B
people in the African Continental Free Trade Area, signed by
54 countries
A logistics base built for direct trade
An inland port, a foreign-trade zone and one-day reach to half of America. African goods can reach the heartland without a coastal detour.
Industrial demand that is already here
Advanced manufacturing, food processing, health systems and logistics operators are investing in the region now, and need new supply and talent.
A diaspora that connects both ends
Ohio’s African communities bring market knowledge, relationships and capital that no coastal convening can replicate.
PROGRAMME PILLARS
Five Sectors Where the Midwest and Africa Meet.
Advanced Manufacturing
Midwest plants and suppliers meet African industrialisation and value-added processing.
Logistics
Inland port and trade-zone capacity meets African exporters seeking direct heartland access.
Food Systems
Agribusiness, processing and retail expertise meets producers moving up the value chain.
Health Systems
Hospital systems, distributors and health-tech meet Africa’s health infrastructure build-out.
Workforce
Universities and employers meet one of the world’s youngest, fastest-growing talent bases.
Diaspora Capital: the cross-cutting capital layer
A dedicated Diaspora Investment Forum connects diaspora investors and professionals to screened opportunities in every pillar.
Sponsorable as a sixth track.
HOW MAIIS IS DESIGNED
A Deal Room with a Summit Around It.
Six binding design rules keep the programme transactional, and make a sponsorship here measurable.
01
At least half the programme is transactional
Deal room, matchmaking and showcases take 50% or more of programme hours.
02
No panel longer than 45 minutes
Short, moderated, and pointed at a decision or an opportunity.
03
Every plenary closes with an announcement
A signed deal, a commitment or a launch. Never just applause.
04
The stage is earned in the deal room
Speaking slots go to organisations that bring counterparts and transactions.
05
Three curated meetings, guaranteed
Every deal-room participant leaves with at least three matched meetings.
06
Results published at 90, 180 and 365 days
We track conversion after the summit and report it publicly.
THE AUDIENCE
Who Is In the Room?
A curated delegate mix, shaped with founding sponsors. Commit early and help decide who attends.
Midwest corporates and mid-market firms
Manufacturers, food processors, health systems, retailers and logistics operators seeking supply, customers and partners.
African government delegations
Ministers, investment promotion and trade agencies presenting priority projects and country showcases.
African enterprises
Export-ready producers, industrial firms and service companies, screened through deal-room intake.
Investors and financiers
Banks, development finance, funds, family offices and trade-finance providers.
Diaspora investors and professionals
The capital, market knowledge and relationships that connect both ends of the corridor.
Public sector, universities and workforce
State and city economic development, research universities, community colleges and training providers.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Two Days, Organized around the deal Room.
PRE-SUMMIT
Thursday, August 12
- Delegation arrivals and protocol
- Industry site visits: logistics, manufacturing, health and food
- Sponsor and delegation briefings
- Welcome reception
DAY ONE
Friday, August 13
- Opening plenary and first announcements
- Deal room opens: pre-scheduled meetings
- Pillar tracks (45-minute sessions)
- Country showcases
- Exhibition and African Marketplace
- Leaders’ Gala Dinner
DAY TWO
Saturday, August 14
- Diaspora Investment Forum
- Deal room: second round and signings
- Pillar tracks and Ministerial & Executive Roundtable
- Exhibition and African Marketplace
- Closing plenary: announcements and launch of the Midwest–Africa Trade Council
RUNNING BOTH DAYS
Deal room · Transaction support desk · Exhibition · African Marketplace · Country pavilions · Media centre
SPONSOR RETURN
Buy Access to Outcomes, not Logo Placement.
MIDWEST AND U.S. SPONSORS
AFRICA-FACING SPONSORS
SPONSOR-OWNED MOMENTS
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Six Ways In. One Corridor.
RUNNING BOTH DAYS
Deal room · Transaction support desk · Exhibition · African Marketplace · Country pavilions · Media centre
PRESENTING SPONSOR
MAIIS 2027, Presented By You.
1 AVAILABLE · EXCLUSIVE
$150K
Own the corridor. Anchor the inaugural
summit.
BEST FOR
An institution that wants to be permanently identified with opening Ohio’s trade corridor to Africa.
“MAIIS 2027 presented by” lock-up with the summit mark on every surface: stage, site, print, app and media.
01
Welcome remarks at the opening plenary and a closing-plenary announcement moment.
02
12 curated deal-room meetings, scheduled by the MAIIS deal desk against your priorities.
03
20×20 island exhibit in the prime position on the show floor.
04
20 delegate passes and two tables of ten at the Leaders’ Gala Dinner.
05
Two seats at the Ministerial & Executive Roundtable, and hosting rights for one site visit.
06
Founding seat at the inaugural session of the Midwest–Africa Trade Council.
07
90 / 180 / 365-day impact reports with an executive briefing, and first right of refusal for 2028.
08
PLATINUM · CORRIDOR PARTNER
Lead Alongside the Summit, Across Every Pillar.
Corridor Partner recognition at the top of the sponsor hierarchy on stage, site, print and app.
01
A plenary announcement moment for a deal, commitment or launch.
02
8 curated deal-room meetings, scheduled by the MAIIS deal desk.
03
10×20 premium exhibit space on the main aisle.
04
12 delegate passes and one table of ten at the Leaders’ Gala Dinner.
05
One seat at the Ministerial & Executive Roundtable.
06
Invitation to the inaugural session of the Midwest–Africa Trade Council.
07
90 / 180 / 365-day impact reports and first right of refusal for 2028.
08
3 AVAILABLE
$75K
Top-tier presence, plenary visibility,
priority deal flow.
BEST FOR
Banks, utilities, health systems, logistics and manufacturing leaders with interests in more than one pillar.
GOLD · PILLAR PARTNER
Own Your Sector. One Sponsor per Pillar.
5 AVAILABLE · ONE PER PILLAR
$40K
Manufacturing. Logistics. Food. Health. Workforce.
BEST FOR
Sector leaders who want first call on the counterparts, content and deal flow in a single pillar.
Named pillar track (“Logistics, in partnership with”), exclusive within your sector.
01
Opening remarks for your track and a curated panel seat, subject to editorial fit.
02
6 curated deal-room meetings with pre-screened counterparts in your pillar.
03
10×10 premium corner exhibit space.
04
8 delegate passes and six seats at the Leaders’ Gala Dinner.
05
One seat at the Ministerial & Executive Roundtable session for your pillar.
06
Track branding on site, print, app and session recordings.
07
90 / 180 / 365-day impact reports for your pillar, and first right on it for
2028.
08
EXHIBITOR PACKAGES
Own Your Sector. One Sponsor per Pillar.
SILVER
$20K
8 available
BRONZE
$10K
10 available
COMMUNITY
$5K
Open · members and diaspora-owned firms
SIGNATURE ACTIVATIONS
Own a Moment. Stand-Alone, or Added to Any Level.
$50,000
Exclusive
Deal
Room
Naming of the deal room and matchmaking platform, where the summit’s results are made.
$35,000
Exclusive
Leaders’
Gala Dinner
“Presented by” naming, welcome toast, two tables and the signing-ceremony backdrop.
$25,000
Exclusive
Ministerial & Executive Roundtable
Host the closed-door session of ministers, executives and investors. Four seats.
$25,000
Exclusive
Diaspora Investment Forum
Title partner of the diaspora capital track, with opening remarks and lead capture.
$20,000
Exclusive
Welcome
Reception
The first room every delegation walks into. Branding, remarks and a hosted guest list.
$15,000
2 available
Industry
Site Visits
Co-host delegations at logistics, manufacturing, health or food sites across the region.
$15,000
Exclusive
African
Marketplace
Naming of the public-facing marketplace for African consumer goods, food and design.
$10,000
Exclusive
Interpretation: French and Portuguese
Make every session accessible to Francophone and Lusophone delegations.
$50,000
Each, 4 available
Registration, Badges, App or Wi-Fi
High-frequency brand touchpoints used by every delegate, every hour.
SILVER · BRONZE · COMMUNITY
A Credible Seat at The Table, at Three Levels.
ISLAND
20 × 20 ft
$12,000
Four open sides in a prime position. 8 exhibitor passes. Two curated deal-room meetings.
DOUBLE
10 × 20 ft
$5,500
Main-aisle inline space for product and equipment display. 4 exhibitor
passes.
PREMIUM CORNER
10 × 10 ft
$3,500
Two open sides on a high-traffic corner. 3 exhibitor passes.
STANDARD
10 × 10 ft
$2,500
Inline booth on the main show floor. 2 exhibitor passes.
EVERY BOOTH INCLUDES
SILVER · BRONZE · COMMUNITY
A Credible Seat at The Table, at Three Levels.
ISLAND
20 × 20 ft
$12,000
Four open sides in a prime position. 8 exhibitor passes. Two curated deal-room meetings.
DOUBLE
10 × 20 ft
$5,500
Main-aisle inline space for product and equipment display. 4 exhibitor
passes.
PREMIUM CORNER
10 × 10 ft
$3,500
Two open sides on a high-traffic corner. 3 exhibitor passes.
STANDARD
10 × 10 ft
$2,500
Inline booth on the main show floor. 2 exhibitor passes.
EVERY BOOTH INCLUDES