FG, Afreximbank sign IATF 2027 hosting agreement
Nigeria has signed an agreement to host the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), scheduled to take place in Lagos from November 5 to 11, 2027.
The host agreement was signed on Monday in Lagos in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
The event is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors and participants from over 100 countries, with organisers targeting trade and investment deals exceeding $50bn.
IATF2027 will be held under the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade – From Market Access to Market Power,” and will feature trade exhibitions, investment forums focused on AfCFTA opportunities, business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, as well as showcases for Africa’s creative and automotive industries.
Other highlights of the fair will include Global Africa Day aimed at strengthening ties with the African diaspora, a youth start-up pavilion and the Africa Research and Innovation Hub designed to bring together academics and researchers.
Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, described Lagos as a symbolic host city because it was where the Lagos Plan of Action was adopted in 1980 to promote Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency.
“We are proud that Nigeria will host IATF2027 in Lagos. This is historically significant because Lagos hosted the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980, which was designed to advance Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-reliance,” Obasanjo said.
Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has generated more than $167bn in trade and investment deals and attracted over 180,000 participants from 132 countries.
