Nigeria has signed the host agreement for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027), taking over the baton from Algeria which hosted the fourth edition that recorded US$49.94 billion in trade and investment deals.
- •Scheduled to take place from November 5 – 11, 2027, IATF2027 is targeting over US$50 billion in trade and investment deals, 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors, and participation from more than 100 countries.
- •Since 2018, IATF has cumulatively generated over US$167 billion in trade and investment deals and welcomed more than 180,000 visitors from 132 countries.
- •Nigeria's market size, resource base and industrial potential are central to the success of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is working to create a single market for goods and services.
"The work ahead of us under the AfCFTA is not only expansive but also existential for our survival and prosperity. IATF 2027 will therefore be a defining moment in accelerating and transforming intra-African trade and investment. Together, we must align our markets, our industries and our talent to deliver the prosperous Africa we envision,” Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria's Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The agreement signing ceremony was held in Lagos, the designated ‘host city’, in partnership with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
"We have to work hard to keep moving towards the Africa we want. I am confident that IATF2027 will surpass all previous editions in both scope and impact as we advance our shared goal for a unified African marketplace under the AfCFTA,” Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said.
