All roads lead to Algiers for IATF2025

More than 35,000 visitors from more than 140 countries are expected at the week-long fair that has become Africa’s premier trade and investment event. Showcasing goods and services to these visitors and buyers will be more than 2,000 exhibitors including businesses from the continent and beyond. IATF2025 is projected to translate into trade and investment deals worth over $44bn, spotlighting the growing impact of the fair as a marketplace for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

IATF2025 is the fourth edition of the fair that is held biennially by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat. It aims to tap into opportunities from the AfCFTA single market of more than 1.4bn people and GDP of over $3.5 trillion by providing a sustainable platform for accessing trade and market information, while promoting intra-African trade and investment. 

In the last three editions of IATF that were held in Cairo, Egypt (IATF2018 and IATF2023) and Durban, South Africa (IATF2021), over $100bn in trade and investment deals have been cumulatively closed with more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors participating. 

A huge opportunity abounds at IATF2025 for African businesses to tap into – to market their goods and services, grow sales and market share, gather feedback, expand to new markets, enhance knowledge and exchange ideas with peers. 

Gateway to new opportunities

The theme of IATF2025 is “Gateway to new opportunities”. In addition to the trade exhibition by countries and businesses, it promises a packed programme with activities geared towards promoting intra-African trade and investment. 

Some of the activities lined up for IATF2025 include a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring leading African and international speakers; and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers. 

The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme will be hosting the largest gathering of creatives from Global Africa with a dedicated exhibition and summit on fashion, music, film, arts and craft, sports, literature, gastronomy and culinary arts. 

Special days will also be held, dedicated for countries as well as public and private entities to showcase trade and investment opportunities, and tourism and cultural attractions, as well as Global Africa Day to highlight commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora, featuring a Diaspora Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase. 

Also planned are a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges; the AU Youth Start-Up programme showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes. 

The Africa Research and Innovation Hub @IATF targeting academia and allowing national researchers to exhibit their innovations and research projects; and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) to promote trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges and effective and active engagement on the development of African regions, among sub-sovereign in the context of the AfCFTA.

The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors throughout the year. 

Kanayo Awani, executive vice president, Intra-African Trade & Export Development Bank at Afreximbank says: “IATF2025 is pivotal to advancing intra-African trade. Therefore, I want to encourage local businesses, especially SMEs, to take advantage of the fair to showcase their products and services to buyers and visitors attending the fair, in order to expand their markets. By increasing intra-African trade, the continent will also foster industrialisation, promote value addition, create jobs and enhance global competitiveness.” 

IATF2025 follows a well-beaten path that dates back to as early as 1963, when the role of trade fairs in promoting intra-African trade was recognised by the founding fathers of the African Union (AU), then known as Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU). 

Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Strategy that was developed in 2016 identified trade fairs as a key avenue for boosting intra-African trade by bridging gaps in access to trade and market information. n

Learn more at www.iatf.africa and www.canex.africa