3rd edition of Intra-African Trade Fair kicks off

CAIRO - 9 November 2023: The third edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) kicked off Thursday in Egypt. 

The IATF2023 is organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Secretariat. 

It takes place from 9th - 15th November, 2023. 

The IATF2023 comes under the theme: “The AfCFTA Marketplace”.

The IATF2023 provides a platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people with a GDP of over $3.5 trillion created under the African Continental Free Trade Area, according to the African Union.

“At IATF 2023, $43 billion worth of trade and investment deals are expected to close. The fair will attract 75 participating countries, 1600 business exhibitors, entrepreneurs, investors, financiers, and 35,000 buyers and visitors,” the African Development Bank (AfDB) stated.

According to the AfDB, the inaugural IATF 2018 held in Cairo, Egypt, saw 1086 exhibitors and businesses participate, surpassing the 1,000 initially anticipated. Deals worth $32 billion were brokered.

At the second edition in Durban, South Africa in 2021, there were 1,161 exhibitors from 69 countries, of which 46 were African.  The fair attracted 31,400 attendees both “in-person” and virtually. At Durban, deals worth some $42 billion were arranged. Participation at the IATF2023 provides potential opportunities to build new pipelines and develop businesses in non-traditional business sectors.