Nigeria has been officially chosen as the host country for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), scheduled for 2027. The announcement was made by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who serves as chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, during the opening ceremony of the fourth edition currently taking place in Algiers, Algeria. Obasanjo explained that Nigeria emerged as host after a rigorous bidding and due diligence process, making it the fourth African nation to stage the event. “IATF is not just a trade fair but a journey across our continent and global Africa, carried forward by nations that share in the vision of intra-African trade and regional integration,” he said while presenting the host flag to Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Aduwole.
A GROWING PLATFORM FOR AFRICAN TRADE AND INTEGRATION
Since its creation, the Intra-African Trade Fair has become Africa’s premier trade and investment platform, connecting businesses, governments, and investors under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Held every two years, the fair is co-convened by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Its goal is simple yet ambitious: to help African businesses take advantage of AfCFTA’s single market, which covers over 1.4 billion people and a GDP of more than US$3.5 trillion. The trade fair offers opportunities for companies to showcase goods and services, explore cross-border business ventures, and share vital market information. The event has already proven its economic impact. Over the last three editions—in Cairo (2018), Durban (2021), and Cairo again (2023)—IATF has generated more than $118 billion in trade and investment deals, while attracting over 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors. Nigeria will now build on this legacy as it prepares to host in 2027.
NIGERIA’S OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD IN AFRICA’S TRADE FUTURE
Hosting IATF2027 places Nigeria in a central role within Africa’s trade journey. With its large population, diverse economy, and active participation in continental trade initiatives, Nigeria stands to gain significantly from the visibility and opportunities this fair will create. For local businesses, the event offers a chance to connect directly with international buyers, investors, and partners seeking to expand into Africa’s biggest economy.
Outgoing Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah reflected on how far the trade fair has come since its inception. “The journey we began in 2017, when we started planning for the inaugural Trade Fair, was a strategic move drawn from Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Strategy, launched in 2016. The herculean task of converting vision to reality was only made possible by the strong support Afreximbank received from many,” he said.
The IATF2025 edition in Algeria, presided over by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has already drawn thousands of delegates, including African and Caribbean heads of state, global business leaders, and policymakers. This underlines the growing influence of the event, which is also open to non-African businesses interested in supporting Africa’s industrialization and export development. As Nigeria prepares for 2027, the fair is expected to drive discussions on solutions to Africa’s trade challenges while also attracting billions of dollars in new deals. For Nigerian entrepreneurs and policymakers, it represents a historic opportunity to showcase the nation’s role as a leader in African trade and integration.
