Special Correspondent
Algeria successfully hosted the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) from September 4 to 10, organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The fair witnessed massive participation with 14 heads of state, 41 foreign ministers, 2,148 exhibitors, and 35,000 delegates representing 70 countries, including 49 from Africa. Visitor numbers reached 60,650, underscoring the growing importance of intra-African trade and investment.
In his keynote speech, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stressed that “Africa is the future”, reaffirming Algeria’s commitment to continental integration through strategic projects such as the Trans-Saharan Highway, railway links to Mali and Niger, new air and maritime routes, and expansion of Algerian banks across Africa. Algeria also provides 8,000 annual scholarships to African students and has trained 65,000 professionals since independence.
Themed “Gateway to New Opportunities”, IATF 2025 featured high-level forums on trade, innovation, startups, creative industries, and diaspora investment.
The event concluded with record-breaking results: $48.3 billion in trade and investment contracts, surpassing expectations of $44 billion. Algeria alone accounted for $23 billion in deals and commitments, reinforcing its position as a driving force in Africa’s economy.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, hailed the event as proof that Africa can progress globally with unity, praising Algeria’s organizational success.
With its strategic location, vast resources, and growing influence, Algeria has positioned itself as Africa’s economic gateway and locomotive for regional integration.
