Over 112,000 visitors from 132 countries attended the fair, which ran from 4 to 10 September and brought together 2,148 exhibitors and 958 buyers.
It was organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune opened the fair, which was attended by 14 heads of state and government, 41 ministers and senior officials, and featured forums on trade, investment and intra-African cooperation.
The programme combined national and corporate exhibitions with business and government matchmaking events, a four-day trade and investment forum, and nine themed country and organization days; including the Arise IIP Industrial Day and the Dangote Day, in addition to Algeria, Kenya, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Cote d’Ivoire days.
Dedicated sections showcased creative industries through the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, as well as automotive manufacturing via the Africa Automotive Show.
The AU Youth Start-Up Programme and the Africa Research and Innovation Hub @IATF highlighted new research and prototypes, while a year-round virtual platform helped connect exhibitors with prospective partners before the physical event.
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, chair of the IATF advisory council, told the closing ceremony that the trade fair had “surpassed all expectations and targets” set by organizers.
“Through vibrant exchanges and partnerships, IATF2025 has exceeded our expectations and now stands as the biggest ever,” Obasanjo said. “It has sown the seed of future prosperity for our shared vision of an economically integrated Africa. We need to continue building on these connections, exploring new opportunities and realising the full benefits of AfCFTA.”
Organizers said Algeria accounted for $11.4 billion of the contracts signed during the fair, representing nearly a quarter of the total, with a further $11.6 billion in Algerian export commitments expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
They said the event also boosted Algeria’s visibility as a regional trade hub, while providing a short-term lift to its tourism and hospitality sectors.
In a major structural change, the IATF was institutionalized as a treaty-based entity, the Intra-African Trade Fair Company (IATFCO), to be headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Lagos, Nigeria, was confirmed as host of the next edition in 2027, while Calabar in Cross River state will host the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Investment Conference in 2026 under a deal signed by Governor Bassey Edet Otu and Afreximbank vice-president Kanayo Awani.
The closing ceremony also featured awards recognizing top exhibitors.
Zambia was named best pavilion, Mota Engil won best stand design, Ogun state in Nigeria took the sustainability award, Arise IIP won for innovation, and Fiat Stellantis received the automotive show prize.
Algeria’s Ministry of Arts and Culture took the CANEX award, while Zimbabwe won best stand feature.
Afreximbank said thousands of African businesses, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), had forged new partnerships and entered new markets through the IATF platform, which aims to accelerate intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework.
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