The 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) closed on September 10, 2025, with unprecedented achievements, setting a new benchmark for the continent’s largest trade and investment event. Hosted in Algiers, Algeria, the fair drew over 112,000 participants from 132 countries, nearly 1,000 buyers, and 2,148 exhibitors, cementing its status as a vital platform for accelerating Africa’s economic integration.
Gainmore Zanamwe, Director of Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, unveiled the fair’s final “report card,” celebrating trade and investment deals worth $48.3 billion—surpassing the $44 billion target set earlier. Algeria alone contributed $11.4 billion in signed contracts plus an additional $11.6 billion in commitments, highlighting the host country’s pivotal role.
Participation from African heads of state and government increased dramatically to 20, from eight in the 2023 edition, while the number of participating African countries reached 49, exceeding the target of 40. The fair also featured nine special thematic days, more than double those initially planned, spotlighting key partners including Algeria, the Dangote Group, and Global Africa Day.
“This is a moment to look back and assess our performance,” Zanamwe told delegates. “IATF2025 has exceeded every expectation—from attendance to deals signed. Algeria mobilized 112,000 people, far beyond our target of 35,000. This will go down as the best and biggest IATF ever. Our founding fathers would be proud.”
The weeklong event brought together business leaders, policymakers, innovators, and cultural stakeholders in a program enriched with exhibitions, forums, and networking events. Notable features included the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) showcasing fashion, arts, and music, the Africa Automotive Show, and the AU Youth Start-Up Programme spotlighting entrepreneurial innovation.
Former Nigerian President and IATF Advisory Council Chair Olusegun Obasanjo praised the success, stating, “We gather today with a sense of accomplishment and great satisfaction. From exhibitions to panel discussions, it has been a week of vibrant exchanges and dynamic partnerships—an embodiment of our shared vision for a prosperous Africa.”
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria, who opened the fair, emphasized the importance of deepening African economic integration amid global challenges. Algeria leveraged the fair to showcase its industrial value chains, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors, attracting investments and forging new partnerships.
The fair’s success was enhanced by strategic partnerships among Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, all committed to realizing the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). At the closing ceremony, the call to nurture youth, women, and SMEs’ participation echoed strongly, underscoring inclusive growth as a continental priority.
