Discover and filter business, industrial and MICE events across the Global South — BRICS+, ASEAN, EAEU, African Union, SCO and MERCOSUR markets. Browse by industry, region and country.
India's Process Engineering Hub Powers IPEC 2026 — A BRICS Spotlight
India's industrial automation market — host of IPEC at HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad — is set to grow from USD 19.19 billion in 2026 to USD 28.73 billion by 2031, at an 8.41% CAGR. Process automation dominates at 48.6%, driven by refining, chemicals, pharma and F&B demand, with India's manufacturing PMI at 59.2 in late 2025.
Telangana anchors India's pharma ecosystem and the wider BRICS pharmaceutical supply chain: Hyderabad alone delivers ~35% of India's drug manufacturing, ~40% of pharma exports, and one-third of global vaccine output. The state hosts 800+ pharma firms, 214 US FDA-certified plants — the highest worldwide — and targets a USD 100 billion life-sciences sector under Vision 2030.
Key trends: Industry 4.0, AI-driven predictive maintenance, energy-efficient process control, GMP-compliant automation, and sustainable engineering — positioning India as a leading BRICS industrial powerhouse.
Indonesia Anchors the World's Maritime Epicenter at INAMARINE 2026
Indonesia officially leads the global merchant fleet with 11,422 commercial vessels — surpassing China and Panama — fuelled by its 17,000-island archipelago and strategic position between the Indian and Pacific oceans. INAMARINE 2026, hosted at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, captures this momentum, projected 30% larger than the prior edition.
The "Tol Laut" Maritime Highway Project is the key state driver, modernising 59 ports with smart-port automation and digital logistics. The commercial barge fleet alone grows from USD 1.39 billion in 2025 to USD 2.20 billion by 2035 (CAGR 4.70%), while PT PAL, PT DOK Surabaya and PT Daya Radar Utama anchor commercial shipbuilding, ship repair and offshore vessels for oil & gas.
Key trends: green ship technology, offshore oil & gas, subsea exploration, port digitalisation, and marine coatings — positioning Indonesia as the Global South's commercial shipbuilding hub.
Malaysia's food market — host of MIFB at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre — reached USD 61.38 billion in 2025 and is set to grow 6.59% annually through 2030. The foodservice segment surges from USD 14.75 billion in 2025 to USD 27.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR 13.26%), driven by urbanisation, rising incomes, and quick-service expansion.
Halal positioning anchors the country's global reach: Malaysia's halal industry hit RM 290 billion in 2023 with exports of RM 100 billion. JAKIM certification is recognised in 60 countries, and the MyHalal Portal launched in 2025 cut approval times by 30%. Asia-Pacific halal F&B — USD 524 billion in 2026 — advances at 9.24% CAGR, with Malaysia leading regional growth at 10.07%.
Key trends: halal traceability, ASEAN export readiness, plant-based and functional drinks, ready-to-eat innovation, and digital F&B platforms — positioning Malaysia as the Global South's premier Halal-hub gateway.
Africa's Rail Renaissance Picks Up Speed at Africa Rail 2026
Africa's rail sector is in its biggest investment surge in decades, with project pipelines valued at over USD 495 billion. The Sub-Saharan rail freight market alone is set to grow from USD 4.77 billion in 2025 to USD 6.19 billion by 2030, at a 5.26% CAGR.
South Africa — host of Africa Rail at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg — operates the continent's largest network (20,000 km, Transnet). The new National Rail Master Plan commits ZAR 1.3 trillion to modernisation, and in 2025 eleven private operators were granted access to 41 routes covering coal, iron ore and manganese.
Continental flagships accelerate momentum: the Lobito Corridor (800 km Zambia–Angola greenfield) cuts Copperbelt-to-port transit from 45 to under 15 days, and Kenya's Naivasha–Malaba SGR extension broke ground in 2026.
Key trends: digitalisation, signalling upgrades, climate-resilient engineering, PPPs, and standard-gauge integration.
Brazil's Franchise Powerhouse Takes Centre Stage at ABF Expo 2026
Brazil's franchising sector — host of the 33rd ABF Expo at Expo Center Norte, São Paulo — hit a historic BRL 301.7 billion (USD 55 billion) in 2025, growing 10.5–10.8% year-on-year and outpacing the broader retail average. The market spans 200,000+ operations and sustains 1.8 million formal jobs. //
ABF forecasts 8–10% revenue growth in 2026, with networks expanding 2–4%. Food Service leads, hitting a record BRL 51.8 billion (+10.8% YoY) as out-of-home dining accelerates. //
Internationalisation gains traction: Brazilian franchises operate in 126 countries, with the Franchising Brasil programme (ABF + ApexBrasil) generating USD 11.8 million in projected new business via 2025 missions. Brand presence in Portugal alone rose 68% in five years. //
Key trends: digital channels, multi-segment expansion, healthy-food concepts, and brand internationalisation — positioning Brazil as the Global South's leading franchise hub.
China Powers the Electrical Revolution at CWIEME Shanghai 2026
China's transformer market — host of the 11th CWIEME at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center — is set to grow from USD 18.91 billion in 2026 to USD 29.52 billion by 2031, at a 9.31% CAGR. State Grid Corporation's historic 4 trillion yuan (USD 574 billion) 15th Five-Year Plan — a 40% jump on the prior cycle — anchors demand, with global orders for Chinese transformers booked into 2027. //
The electric motor sector advances at 11.2% CAGR, propelled by the EV powertrain market, set to expand from USD 63.7 billion in 2024 to USD 174 billion by 2030 (CAGR 18.2%). China's broader EV market alone reaches USD 418 billion in 2026. //
Key trends: 15 new ultra-high-voltage (UHV) corridors by 2030, smart grids, AI data-centre power infrastructure, PMSM motors, and Industry 4.0 automation — positioning Shanghai's eastern manufacturing cluster as the global electrical manufacturing nerve centre.