Obasanjo, Global Leaders Launch Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 in Algiers
Story: written by Springnewsng September 4,2025
Algiers, Algeria – September 4, 2025: Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) Advisory Council, will today join Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and other world leaders to officially declare open the 2025 edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers.
The landmark event, organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, will run for seven days in the Algerian capital.
More than 35,000 delegates and 2,000 exhibitors from over 140 countries are expected to participate, with trade and investment deals worth over $44 billion projected. The fair will feature high-level negotiations, policy dialogues, and cultural showcases designed to accelerate Africa’s economic integration under AfCFTA.
The opening Presidential Summit will feature President Tebboune, Obasanjo, AfCFTA Champion and former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, alongside several African and Caribbean heads of state. Also speaking are Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Key highlights of IATF2025 include:
- Global Africa Diaspora Day – celebrating Africa’s global diaspora links.
- Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) – spotlighting creative and cultural industries.
- Algeria Investment Forum – positioning Algeria as a gateway for African trade.
- Arise Industrialisation Day – driving value addition and manufacturing.
- Africa Automotive Show – uniting the continent’s automotive ecosystem.
- Dangote Pavilion & Special Day – showcasing Africa’s industrial champions.
- AU Youth Start-Up Platform – empowering Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Influential speakers include Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation; Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group; Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre; Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN Group; Adewale Tinubu, CEO of Oando Plc; and Kola Olajide, CEO of SAVA.
They will be joined by Professor Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies; South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau; Algeria’s Trade Minister Kamal Rezig; Industry Minister Fatma Zohra Barca; Energy Minister Sifi Ghrieb; and other leading figures in government, business, energy, and agriculture.
Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice-President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development, described IATF2025 as “not just an event, but a marketplace and a movement,” urging businesses and investors to leverage AfCFTA opportunities for growth and partnerships.
With registration now closed, organisers and the Algerian government confirmed readiness to welcome thousands of delegates, promising a seamless experience that combines diplomacy, business forums, culture, and investment opportunities. IATF2025 is set to mark a historic milestone in Africa’s trade and economic transformation.
