African leaders have called for deeper regional trade as the continent’s largest trade and investment fair, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), opened in Algiers.
The seven-day event has drawn more than 2,000 exhibitors and thousands of delegates from across Africa and the Caribbean, with organisers expecting deals worth over $44bn. Caribbean participation is seen as a chance to diversify trade partnerships and access African markets.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune urged governments to boost intra-African trade to create jobs and shield economies from global shocks. He highlighted Algeria’s investments in roads, energy pipelines and digital networks to strengthen regional connectivity.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, chair of the IATF advisory council, said the fair had become a key driver of African trade since its launch in 2018, facilitating more than $118bn in deals.
AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene reported intra-African trade rose 12.4% in 2024 to $220.3bn, with manufactured goods making up a growing share. African Union Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi said internal trade had increased by 27% between 2017 and 2023, but still accounted for only 15% of the continent’s total.
The event’s programme includes diaspora, investment and youth forums, as well as showcases on industry, automotive and creative sectors.
IATF2025 runs throughout the week, hosted by Algeria in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
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