The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), scheduled to take place in Algiers from September 4 to 10, is regarded as a decisive catalyst for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), several Pan-African business organizations told APS, highlighting Algeria’s role in accelerating the continent’s economic integration.
In this context, Kebour Ghenna, Executive Director of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), described the IATF as a “unique experience,” offering a concrete space where African buyers and sellers can conclude deals and thereby strengthen intra-continental trade.
Recalling Algeria’s role in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA, Ghenna said the efforts deployed in preparing for this fair reflect the country’s strong commitment to African integration. “By hosting IATF 2025, Algeria is clearly demonstrating its will to be a central player,” he said, stressing that “the scale of resources mobilized to organize the event reflects a long-term vision: to make Algeria a regional platform where Africa meets to trade and invest.”
As for PACCI’s participation, Ghenna noted that the Addis Ababa–based organization had taken part in the previous three editions of the IATF, but this will be the first time it has its own pavilion in Algiers. It will showcase flagship initiatives such as the African Private Sector Hearings (APSH), SME support programs, work on climate finance, and digitalization projects for chambers of commerce.
Ghenna expressed optimism about the prospects for the AfCFTA, despite persistent obstacles to intra-African trade, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, logistical challenges, inadequate financing for SMEs, and slow administrative reforms. “With the new generation of African citizens, trust will grow and we will move toward a continental market open to trade, investment, and free movement,” he affirmed.
For her part, Jacinta Kiruthi, Executive Director of the All Africa Association for Small & Medium Enterprises (AAASME), said that “IATF 2025 promises to be a landmark event that will not only build on the momentum of previous editions but also play a pivotal role in accelerating economic integration and boosting intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.”
According to her, the fair will provide African businesses with unprecedented opportunities to connect, collaborate, and promote their products beyond national borders. “Far more than just a trade exhibition, it is a true continental platform for partnerships, designed to showcase African excellence while opening access to new markets, investment opportunities, and joint ventures,” she emphasized. This edition, she added, will particularly focus on “expanding SME participation, enhancing youth entrepreneurship visibility, and leveraging digital solutions to make cross-border trade smoother than ever.”
Kiruthi also described the Algiers edition as “an ideal platform for dialogue, agreements, and the sharing of solutions to the major challenges slowing integration: infrastructure gaps, regulatory disparities, border delays, limited financing—especially for SMEs—and lack of awareness and information between African markets.”
The AAASME chief, based in Abuja (Nigeria), further stressed that “Algeria plays both a strategic and symbolic role by hosting IATF 2025. As a bridge between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and with its growing investments in infrastructure and trade facilitation, it is poised to become a key driver of the AfCFTA vision.” Hosting the fair in Algiers, she added, is “a clear sign of Algeria’s commitment to continental solidarity, economic integration, and diversification of trade partnerships.”
According to her, Algeria can also “play a crucial role in strengthening Afro-Arab trade ties, promoting cultural and industrial exchanges, and positioning itself as a true gateway to Africa.” She concluded: “With Algiers as the host city of IATF 2025, we are convinced that momentum toward a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Africa will only grow stronger.”
Meanwhile, Cornelius Nartey, Director of the African Association of Entrepreneurs (AAE), underlined that IATF 2025, taking place at “a decisive moment as the AfCFTA enters its operational phase,” represents “a real catalyst by helping to remove trade barriers between African countries.”
Against the backdrop of reconfigured global supply chains, he noted that this edition, expected to generate nearly $44 billion in deals, “sends a strong signal of Africa’s determination to build autonomous development.”
“The IATF 2025 is an exceptional springboard for SMEs, giving them the chance to compete with major players. They can meet all potential buyers in one place at one time,” Nartey said, adding that the event is “a historic opportunity to rewrite Africa’s economic logic.”
