The 2026 Africa Kaizen Summit to Unite Experts in Mauritius Across 54 Nations

Mauritius has been officially designated as an Africa Kaizen centre of excellence, solidifying its position as a continental leader in industrial productivity and quality management. In a significant diplomatic and economic coup, the island nation has also been selected to host the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference (AKAC) 2026.

The Mauritian government formally greenlit the event on 14 November 2025, following a request from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and in partnership with AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union’s development agency.

A Continental Platform for Excellence

The 2026 conference will serve as a high-level gathering for African policymakers, academics, and practitioners.

Under the umbrella of the Africa Kaizen Initiative, the event aims to champion the “Kaizen” philosophy—a Japanese approach to continuous improvement—as a primary driver for competitiveness in both public and private sectors.

The summit is expected to feature:

• High-level roundtables focusing on industrial productivity and corporate competitiveness.
• Field visits to local Mauritian organisations that have successfully implemented structured Kaizen practices.
• The Africa Kaizen Awards, a prestigious ceremony honouring organisations that demonstrate rigorous adherence to continuous improvement principles.

Following the main event, the Capacity Building Programme IV will be convened to provide specialised training for management and productivity professionals, ensuring the practical diffusion of these methods across the continent.

Rising Influence in the Region

The selection of Mauritius follows the country’s standout performance at the AKAC 2025 held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) was lauded for its commitment to innovation, while several Mauritian organisations achieved notable success at the previous Africa Kaizen Awards.

The island’s growing visibility in this sector is further bolstered by a new technical cooperation project signed with JICA and the active contribution of NPCC experts to the Digital Kaizen programme.

Strategic Cooperation

The Africa Kaizen initiative is a joint venture between AUDA-NEPAD and JICA. It seeks to foster mutual learning and the “co-creation of African solutions” to bolster industrial capacity.

By hosting the 2026 summit, Mauritius positions itself at the heart of a movement designed to adapt global productivity standards to African economic realities.

Source: Defi Media