What to expect at Algiers 2025

By Nik Ogbulie

In just a year, Algeria will host the fourth Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF2025), a premier event expected to draw over 2,000 exhibitors and 35,000 visitors from more than 140 countries worldwide. Scheduled from September 4–10, 2025, the event will take place in Algiers, offering a vibrant platform for showcasing goods and services and fostering trade opportunities across Africa and beyond.

The week-long fair will bring together over 2,000 exhibitors from across Africa and the world, allowing them to present their products and services while forging business connections and exploring market possibilities. The event is anticipated to generate over $44 billion in trade and investment deals.

Hosted by the Government of Algeria under the theme “Gateway to New Opportunities,” IATF2025 will serve as a key driver for boosting trade and investment, with a focus on harnessing the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which encompasses a market of over 1.4 billion people and a GDP exceeding $3.5 trillion. The biennial fair is organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, emphasized the event’s significance: “IATF has established itself as a vital instrument for promoting intra-African trade and investment. It enables businesses to connect, access market information, and seize opportunities. Over $100 billion in trade and investment deals have been secured during the last three editions, with more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors participating. We invite African businesses to leverage this platform to expand into new markets, boost sales, and share ideas. Our thanks go to Algeria, one of the continent’s leading economies, for hosting this important event.”

The fair will also attract Heads of State, government ministers, prominent business figures, SMEs, and industry leaders.

Chief Obasanjo added, “IATF is the largest and most comprehensive trade fair driving Africa's development. It fosters collaboration toward shared aspirations of prosperity and stability, in alignment with AfCFTA’s vision. The fair is key to transforming Africa’s economies, enhancing resilience, and unlocking new opportunities through intra-African trade and investment.”

IATF2025 will feature a range of key activities, including country and business trade exhibitions, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program spotlighting African creative industries such as fashion, music, film, art, and sports, and a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring influential African and international speakers. The event will also host the Africa Automotive Show, which will cater to manufacturers, assemblers, OEMs, and component suppliers.

The fair will include Special Days dedicated to showcasing trade, investment, and tourism opportunities from various countries and entities, as well as IATF Diaspora Day, which will celebrate commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora through a Diaspora Summit, market exhibition, and cultural showcases.

Additional highlights include a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges, the AU Youth Start-Up program, showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes, and the Africa Research and Innovation Platform @ IATF, allowing university students, academics, and researchers to present their innovations. The African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network will also promote trade, investment, and cultural exchanges at the local level. The IATF Virtual platform, already live, continues to connect exhibitors and visitors year-round.