Organisers of Intra-African Trade Fair opens registration for 2023 edition

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat have paved way for the third edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair after opening the registration process.

The organisers after two successful fairs on the continent hosted in Egypt and South Africa in 2018 and 2021 respectively, are now looking forward to a bigger fair next year, 2023.

At a press conference at the secretariat of the AfCFTA in Accra on Friday, January 14, 2022, the organisers announced that although a date for the fair is yet to be finalised, the Ivory Coast remains the selected host nation.

While leading the official launch, H.E Tiemoko Moriko, Ambassador of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in Ghana and Togo assured that his country will do everything in its power to be ready for the fair.

“I want to assure that the Ivorian state is ready and committed to put in place everything to prepare for IATF 2023.

“My dear country will take all necessary steps to make the trade fair a success so that the objectives of the IATF will be reached. There will be a well-planned atmosphere for this event. Exhibition points, accommodation, security, everything will be well coordinated,” H.E Tiemoko Moriko said at the conference.

He said for his country Cote d’Ivoire, the opportunity to host the 2023 IATF is a very important milestone and they will draw success inspirations from countries that have hosted the past events to make the upcoming fair the very best.

Delivering an address at the press conference, Chairperson of the IATF 2021 Advisory Council and former Nigeria President, H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said organisers should be proud of the success of the past fair.

According to him, the favourable outcome of the 2021 IATF is testament of what the African continent can achieve by working together.

“We are proud to say that the IATF 2021 turned out to be resoundingly successful week that met and surpassed all our expectations. It epitomized what we can achieve as Africans if we come together,” H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo noted.

Looking forward to the next fair, the former Nigeria President stressed that SMEs are encouraged to participate because they are the backbone of the economies in African countries.

Providing an update on the achievements of IATFA2021, Mrs. Kanayo Awani who is Managing Director, Intra-African Trade Initiative at Afreximbank confirmed that the fair in South Africa exposed African businesses to an integrated business of 1.2 billion people.

She said in all, there were 1,501 exhibitors out of which 1,287 were on site with the others live from the IATF virtual platform specifically created for the fair.

Telling the success story after every fair, she said the stage is set and IATF is now the platform connecting sellers and buyers, investors to integrate the public and private sector while facilitating Intra Africa trade.

“There remain a great potential for Africa to continue as we move to the 3rd edition. We will very soon announce the date after taking into consideration that calendar of all partners,” Mrs. Kanayo Awani shared.

For the 2023 IATF, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) wants to see a bigger fair where Africans trade amongst themselves with ease to the satisfaction and benefit of all parties.

This is according to AfCFTA Secretary General H.E Wamkele Mene. Speaking at the press conference, he said his outfit aims to reduce the barrier to trade and investments by ensuring all 39 countries onboard will follow through with obligations and requirements.

Key components of IATF 2023:
1. Trade exhibition
2. Trade and Investment Forus
3. Creative Africa Nexus
4. B2B, B2G, and B2C
5. IATF virtual
6. Country Days
7. AUYouth Start-Up
8. Africa Automotive show
To register for the IATF 2023, apply HERE:

About the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF)
The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

IATF provides a platform to promote trade under the AfCFTA by bringing together continental and global buyers and sellers, and enabling stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and the economic integration of the continent.

In addition to establishing business-to-business and business-to-government exchange platforms for business deals and advisory services, IATF also operates Virtual, an interactive online platform that replicates the physical event.

IATF focuses on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programmes.

A conference runs alongside the exhibition and features high-profile speakers and panellists addressing topical issues relating to trade, trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, trade-enabling infrastructure, trade standards, industrialisation, regional value chains and investment.