Casablanca – Industry leaders and institutional partners gathered on Tuesday at The Venue Downtown in Casablanca for the official press conference unveiling the first edition of “Industrial Transformation Africa” (ITAF), an international event dedicated to automation and smart manufacturing.
As the city prepares to host the event between September 29 and October 1, Tuesday’s press conference served as the official kickoff. Led by Deutsche Messe AG through Hannover Fairs MENA, and locally co-organized by Smart Expos & Events Morocco, the event positions Morocco as a strategic hub for industrial transformation in Africa, bringing together key players in manufacturing, technology, and innovation.
‘The choice of Casablanca is strategic’
“The choice of Africa is deliberate, the choice of Casablanca is strategic,” said Mehtap Gürsoy, Managing Director of Hannover Fairs Turkey & MENA, underscoring the calculus that went into the decision to select Morocco’s economic capital as host of the continental gathering.
With its strategic geographical location at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, well-established industrial ecosystems, and modern infrastructure, Morocco offers a strong foundation for hosting such an event.
The country has emerged as a leading manufacturing hub on the continent, particularly in sectors such as automotive and aerospace, which are supported by integrated industrial zones and logistics platforms like Tanger Med Port.
Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN) on the sidelines of the official launch, Gürsoy reflected on Morocco’s strategic positioning for ITAF’s debut.
“Africa is emerging with democratic growth and demand for advanced manufacturing solutions. Continent acceleration in the industry driven by fast tech adoption, investment and policy momentum,” she argued.
“Within this context,” Gürsoy added, “Morocco has a very unique positioning because it connects Europe, Middle East and Africa. It’s an industrial hub. Morocco fosters innovation. It brings together stability, clarity and long-term vision from the government with initiatives such as Digital Strategy 2030.”
For Gürsoy,the choice of Casablanca is equally deliberate given the city’s economic and industrial weight.
“Casablanca has an economic and industrial capital. So it is the right choice, the right combination for us to be here in Morocco in order to launch Industrial Transformation Africa,” Gürsoy elaborated.
What ITAF 2026 will have in store
Africa continues to face a growing need for more efficient, resilient, and competitive production systems. That’s the issue that Industrial Transformation Africa aims to address. The platform will explore how emerging technologies can accelerate the continent’s industrial development and integration into global value chains.
From artificial intelligence and robotics to automation, supply chain solutions, and smart energy systems, the event will showcase a wide range of innovations shaping the future of manufacturing. Additional focus areas include motion and drive technologies, as well as compressed air and vacuum systems, which are essential components of modern industrial processes.
For its 2026 edition, several leading industrial players have already confirmed their participation, including OCP Maintenance Solutions, IFM Electronic, Igus, and Epson. Their presence reflects growing international interest in Africa’s industrial potential and the role the continent is expected to play in the future of global manufacturing.
At its core, Industrial Transformation Africa is structured around three key pillars aligned with Industry 4.0, a concept originally coined by Hannover Messe. These pillars comprise a large-scale international exhibition, a Smart Factory Academy in Casablanca focused on skills development and applied innovation, and the Industrial Edge Summit Africa, a platform for high-level dialogue between industry leaders, policymakers, and institutions.
A long-term vision
In an exclusive interview with MWN, Katharina Felgenhauer, CEO of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Morocco, highlighted the long-term vision behind the initiative.
“This event is a key component of a long-term vision that has been in the making for many years already, driven by various partners,” she explained.
Felgenhauer also described the project as an integrated ecosystem that connects different industrial and innovation components.
“A vision of an integrated ecosystem that brings together a trade show like the Industrial Transformation Africa 2026, a smart manufacturing academy that will be the hub for innovation, industrial transformation in the making, the development of new technologies, as well as training,” she argued. “Training for existing technologies, as well as training on the development of innovative technologies that will be born here in Morocco and then go to the world.”
ITAF is not only designed to showcase cutting-edge technologies; rather, it provides ongoing support for industrial development. The aim is to create a space where industrial transformation can be supported and advanced beyond the event itself.
It is also positioned as a bridge between global technology providers and African industrial players, helping to facilitate the exchange of expertise, knowledge, and innovation.
With the first African edition in September, attention now turns to Casablanca as it positions itself as a gateway for Africa’s industrial transformation and a meeting point for global manufacturing and innovation players.
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