IATF2025 Closes with $48.3bn in Trade Deals, Algeria Emerges Top Beneficiary

 

The fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) has closed in Algiers, Algeria, with a record $48.3 billion in trade and investment deals signed, underscoring the growing momentum behind the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The week-long fair, held from September 4–10, drew more than 112,000 visitors both physically and virtually from 132 countries, including 958 buyers and 2,148 exhibitors. Organised by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the fair has been described as the most successful yet.

High-Level Participation
The opening ceremony, addressed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was attended by 14 Heads of State and government, 41 ministers and deputy ministers, as well as leading business executives and international speakers. The programme featured exhibitions, investment forums, creative industry showcases, and an Africa Automotive Show, with B2B and B2G sessions connecting companies and governments.

Algeria Leads in Deals
Algeria, the host nation, emerged as the biggest beneficiary, securing $11.4 billion worth of the total deals — about 23.6 percent of all contracts signed. Additional commitments worth $11.6 billion for Algerian exporters are expected to be formalised in the coming months. Algerian businesses showcased their products across multiple sectors, building long-term partnerships to tap AfCFTA opportunities.

A Platform for Integration
Former Nigerian President and IATF Advisory Council Chairman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, described the fair as a “testament to a more integrated and prosperous Africa.” He noted:
“Through vibrant exchanges and partnerships, IATF2025 has exceeded our expectations and now stands as the biggest ever. It has sown the seed of future prosperity for our shared vision of an economically integrated Africa.”

Key Outcomes
Beyond the trade deals, IATF2025 delivered several landmark outcomes:

• Institutionalisation of the trade fair as a stand-alone treaty-based entity, IATFCO, with headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe.

• Announcement of Lagos, Nigeria as host of IATF2027, with the hosting flag formally presented to Nigeria’s Trade Minister, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

• Award of hosting rights for the Sixth AfSNET Investment Conference (2026) to Cross River State, Nigeria, with Calabar as the venue.

The fair also featured the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), highlighting Africa’s creative industries in fashion, film, music, sports, and gastronomy, alongside youth innovation showcases and research forums.

Looking Ahead
The record-breaking $48.3 billion in deals reflects growing investor confidence in Africa’s integrated market and its potential to drive industrialisation, value addition, and intra-African trade. With Lagos preparing to host the next edition in 2027, stakeholders expect the fair to further cement its place as Africa’s premier trade and investment platform.