$48.3bn Trade, Investment Deals Closed As Intra-African Fair Ends

A record-breaking $48.3 cardinal worthy of commercialized and concern deals were sealed astatine the adjacent of the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) successful Algiers, Algeria, arsenic erstwhile Nigerian President and president of the Advisory Council of IATF2025, Olusegun Obasanjo stressed the request for the continent to enactment unneurotic to realise the afloat benefits of Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The weeklong fair, which ran from September 4 to 10, attracted implicit 112,000 visitors physically and virtually from 132 countries, alongside 958 planetary buyers. A full of 2,148 exhibitors showcased their products and services crossed aggregate sectors, affirming IATF’s spot arsenic Africa’s largest marketplace for commercialized and concern opportunities

Speaking astatine the closing ceremony, Obasanjo, said the commercialized just had surpassed each expectations and targets acceptable by the organisers and expressed “a consciousness of accomplishment and feeling of satisfaction” astatine the outcome.

He attributed the palmy result to the vibrant exchanges and dynamic partnerships that pervaded the commercialized just and said that, much than being conscionable a commercialized fair, IATF2025 was a testament to a much integrated and prosperous Africa.

“Through vibrant exchanges and partnerships, IATF2025 has exceeded our expectations and present stands arsenic the biggest ever. It has sown the effect of aboriginal prosperity for our shared imaginativeness of an economically integrated Africa. We request to proceed gathering connected these established connections successful exploring caller opportunities, moving unneurotic to realise the afloat benefits of AfCFTA”, helium stated.

Algeria, which hosted the fair, accounted for $11.4 cardinal of the full deals oregon 23.6 per cent of each contracts closed. Additional commitments worthy $11.6 cardinal are inactive scheduled for Algerian companies. The North African state leveraged the just to fortify its concern base, pull partners, and showcase its diversified economy.

The just produced respective large outcomes specified arsenic the institutionalisation of the Intra-African Trade Fair arsenic a treaty-based entity, IATFCO, with its office to beryllium located successful Harare, Zimbabwe.
In addition, Lagos, Nigeria, was formally announced arsenic the adjacent big metropolis for IATF successful 2027, with the hosting emblem presented to Nigeria’s curate of Trade, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

Nigeria’s Cross Rivers authorities was besides awarded the hosting rights for the Sixth African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference successful 2026.
The hosting statement was signed by Governor Bassey Edet Otu connected behalf of Cross River State and Kanayo Awani, enforcement vice president of Intra-African Trade and Export Development astatine Afreximbank.

The closing ceremonial besides featured an awards conception that recognised outstanding participants.
Mota Engil won Best Stand Design successful the entity category, portion Zambia received the prize for Best Stand Pavilion. Nigeria clinched Best Stand, Zimbabwe took Best Stand Feature, and Ogun State was honoured for sustainability with the Most Green Stand award.

Arise IIP won the Most Innovative Stand, portion the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Algeria, received the CANEX Award. Fiat Stellantis emerged victor of the Africa Automotive Show Award.