Regional by design
Not a single-country event. GLCF is built around the corridors that link the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya to ports and global markets.
Great Lakes Corridors Forum 2026 From National Visions to Regional Value Chains
Connecting Corridors, Capital and Markets across the Great Lakes
- 4–5 December 2026
- Saba Saba Grounds, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Bandari
- Korido
- Miundombinu
- Mtaji
- Soko
- Mnyororo wa thamani
Kuhusu GLCF
A regional platform where vision meets capital
The Great Lakes Corridors Forum connects governments, investors, financial institutions, infrastructure developers, logistics companies, ports, transport operators, businesses and regional institutions across the Great Lakes and East African corridors.
GLCF brings together national visions, regional corridors, capital, infrastructure, trade and markets to accelerate practical economic cooperation and investment across the region.
Tanzania is the host country of the 2026 edition. The Forum itself is regional — built around the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, and the wider Great Lakes and East African region.
Regional by design
- Days of high-level engagement
- 2
- Core components
- 5
- Great Lakes & East African countries at the core
- 6
- GLCF Award categories
- 10
Why GLCF
Corridors are where regional value is created
From the port to the market: the Forum follows the full chain — port, corridor, infrastructure, capital, market and value chain.
Decision-makers in one room
Ministers, regulators, port and rail operators, banks, investors and industry leaders working on the same corridor agenda.
Built for deals, not just dialogue
A Deal Room, B2B meetings, investment missions and project showcases turn conversations into bankable opportunities.
Resilience on the agenda
Trade cannot rely on capacity alone. GLCF links infrastructure with climate risk, insurance, finance and business continuity.
The Great Lakes Corridor Network
Port → corridor → infrastructure → capital → market
Six countries, two gateway ports and a network of rail, road and lake routes. GLCF puts the people who plan, finance and operate these links in one room.
Corridor view
Six countries. Two gateway ports.
Select a country or port on the map to see how it connects to corridors, rail, road and lake routes.
- Primary corridor route
- Feeder / secondary route
- Lake transport link
- Gateway port
Schematic representation for illustrative purposes — not to geographic scale.
Northern Corridor
Port of Mombasa → Kenya → Uganda → Rwanda → eastern DRC.
Central Corridor
Port of Dar es Salaam → Tanzania (road, rail and the SGR Central Line) → Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and DRC.
Lake links
Lake Victoria, Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika connect ports, borders and inland markets.
Five core components
One Forum. Five ways to create regional value
A complete regional experience: policy, business, recognition and networking under one roof.
01
Kongamano
High-level government, business and institutional discussions on corridors, capital and markets.
Discover
02
Biashara na Uwekezaji
Investment missions, B2B meetings, project presentations, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Discover
03
Government & Policy
Ministers, government officials, regulators and regional institutions shaping the enabling environment.
Discover
04
Tuzo za GLCF
Independent recognition of outstanding contributions to corridors, infrastructure, logistics, trade, innovation and regional development.
Discover
05
Hafla Kuu
A premium closing and networking experience for leaders, investors and institutions.
Discover
Business & Investment · GLCF Deal Room
From conversations to bankable opportunities
GLCF is not a talking conference. It is a working platform for deals, projects, partnerships and investment across the Great Lakes corridors.
- Investment missions
- B2B meetings
- Project presentations & showcases
- Business matchmaking
- Strategic partnerships
- MoUs & agreements
- Investment projects
- Infrastructure projects
- Trade opportunities
- PPP opportunities
- Logistics projects
- Industrial projects
- Energy projects
- Mining value chains
- Transport projects
- Regional connectivity
Korido Imara
Climate, infrastructure & the continuity of regional trade
Regional trade cannot depend only on infrastructure capacity. It also needs resilience.
Climate-related disruption can travel along a corridor — from the port to the border, the warehouse and the balance sheet. Resilience therefore connects climate, infrastructure, insurance, banking, logistics, government and business continuity.
- Climate
- Miundombinu
- Insurance
- Banking
- Usafirishaji
- Serikali
- Business continuity
Where corridor disruption is felt
- Ports
- Shipping
- Lakes
- Railways
- Roads
- Air transport
- Warehousing
- Border crossings
- Supply chains
- Insurance
- Trade finance
- Regional commerce
GREII · Digital initiative
Digital Regional Economic & Investment Intelligence
A strategic digital initiative of GLCF, currently being developed, to make regional intelligence, corridor information and investment opportunities easier to find, compare and act on.
Strategic initiative — platform under development
- Regional intelligence
- Investment opportunities
- Infrastructure projects
- Corridor information
- Trade information
- Market intelligence
- Project discovery
- Investor connections
- Digital ecosystem
- Data-driven regional integration
Tuzo za GLCF
Recognising those who connect the region
Independent recognition of outstanding contributions to corridors, infrastructure, logistics, trade, innovation and regional development.
-
Corridor Leadership
-
Port & Connectivity
-
Trade Facilitation
-
Infrastructure Development
-
Logistics Excellence
-
Public Sector Leadership
-
Private Sector Leadership
-
Innovation
-
Women & Youth in Regional Development
-
Lifetime Contribution
GLCF Grand Gala
An evening for the region’s leaders
A premium closing and networking experience: black tie, VIP networking and the moment the Forum comes together.
Black tieVIP networkingClosing evening
- Government leaders
- Investors
- CEOs
- Institutional representatives
- Business leaders
- International guests
Who should attend
The people who move the region
GLCF is designed for those who shape policy, finance projects, run infrastructure and build businesses across the Great Lakes and East Africa.
Government & public institutions
- Governments
- Ministers
- Government agencies
- Regional institutions
- Development partners
- Diplomatic missions
Infrastructure & transport
- Port authorities
- Railway operators
- Road and infrastructure authorities
- Logistics companies
- Shipping companies
- Air transport
Finance & capital
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Development finance institutions
- Investment funds
- Private equity
- Infrastructure investors
- Investors
Industry & trade
- Mining companies
- Manufacturers
- Importers and exporters
- Trade associations
- Chambers of commerce
Innovation, climate & leadership
- Climate and resilience organizations
- Technology companies
- Startups
- Business leaders
- CEOs
Partners & sponsors
Partners who back the region’s corridors
Official partners and sponsors of GLCF 2026 will be announced here.
Official documents
Everything you need to take part
Brosha rasmi ya GLCF
The Forum, its programme, audience and opportunities to participate.
Omba broshaKifurushi rasmi cha Udhamini cha GLCF
Official partnership and sponsorship opportunities for GLCF 2026.
Omba Kifurushi cha UdhaminiContacter le GLCF
Speak with the GLCF team
Participation, partnership, the Deal Room, the Awards or the Gala — reach the team directly.
WhatsApp +255 790 791 379 Simu pekee +255 669 008 011
Tanzania office
Acacia Estates
Plot 84 Kinondoni Road
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Royaume-Uni
Connect Afrika Ltd
82A James Carter Road
Mildenhall
Suffolk IP28 7DE
United Kingdom