2025 Intra – African Trade Fair
The 4th Intra‑African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) convened from September 4–10, 2025 in Algiers, Algeria, emerging as the continent’s most consequential trade and investment marketplace in recent history. Hosted by the African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the week‑long event brought together leading policymakers, business leaders, and private sector participants to accelerate intra‑African trade and economic integration.
Over 112,000 delegates from 132 countries including heads of state, ministers, and senior officials attended the fair, making it one of the largest gatherings of African commerce and industry to date. Activities spanned national and corporate exhibitions, a multi‑day trade and investment forum, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) showcasing Africa’s cultural and creative industries, and special sector‑focused days highlighting priority markets and investment opportunities.
The event culminated in a record breaking US $48.3 billion in trade and investment deals signed, surpassing initial projections and demonstrating confidence in Africa’s single market potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These agreements cut across key economic sectors including agriculture, energy, finance, health, and transport and underscored the growing appetite for intra‑continental commerce.
For NEXIM Bank, participation in IATF 2025 provided a strategic opportunity to amplify Nigeria’s export capabilities and engage directly with institutional partners, government delegations, and private sector stakeholders. Over the course of the fair, NEXIM officials led by the Managing Director, Mr. Abba Bello and the Executive Director Business Development, Hon. Stella Okotete took part in high‑level discussions, bilateral meetings, and networking forums focused on export finance, trade facilitation, and market access, positioning the Bank’s suite of financial solutions to support Nigerian exporters — particularly in non‑oil sectors looking to expand into regional markets.
NEXIM’s participation at the IATF also aligns with the call to promote unity towards building a strong African market that leverages the combined economic strength of 1.3 billion people. Such platforms not only enhance visibility for Nigerian exporters but also connect them with investment pipelines, innovative partnerships, and supply chain opportunities essential for sustainable growth.
By supporting Nigerian participation at IATF 2025, NEXIM Bank reaffirmed its mandate as Nigeria’s trade policy bank promoting export competitiveness, facilitating intra‑regional trade, and driving economic transformation through structured finance and strategic collaboration.
