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After a rigorous bid and due diligence exercise, Nigeria has emerged as the successful host country of the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa's premier trade and investment event that is set to be held in 2027. 

This was announced by the Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council who is also a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo during the official opening ceremony of the fourth edition of the fair, IATF2025 that is currently underway in Algiers, Algeria.  

Presenting the IATF host's flag to Nigeria's Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Aduwole as formal acceptance of the mandate as host country of IATF2027, H.E. Obasanjo said: “IATF is not just a trade fair—it is a journey across our continent and global Africa, carried forward by nations that share in the vision of Intra-African trade and regional integration. Since its inception, IATF has rotated across our continent, leaving its unique legacy and improving with each host nation. Today, we continue this proud tradition by announcing Nigeria as the country that will host IATF2027.” 

The weeklong IATF is held every two years and is co-convened by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. It is a platform for businesses to showcase their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. IATF aims to tap into opportunities from AfCFTA's single market of over 1.4 billion people and GDP of over US$3.5 trillion. 

Nigeria becomes the fourth country to host IATF. Egypt hosted the maiden edition in Cairo in 2018, while the second edition was hosted by South Africa in Durban in 2021. The third edition returned to Cairo in 2023 before the fourth edition which is currently underway in Algiers. The last three editions of IATF have cumulatively generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors. 

Reflecting on IATF's journey, Prof. Benedict Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank said “The journey we began in 2017, when we started planning for the inaugural Trade Fair, which was held in November 2018, was a strategic move drawn from Afreximbank's Intra-African Trade Strategy, launched in 2016. The herculean task of converting vision to reality, mobilising African states, thousands of exhibitors, buyers, and sponsors, among others for an event of such a magnitude was only made possible by the strong support Afreximbank received from many.” 

The official opening ceremony of IATF2025 was presided over by the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune. It was attended by thousands of delegates including heads of state and government from African and the Caribbean, as well as business leaders and captains of industry. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media contact: 
media@intrafricatradefair.com
press@afreximbank.com

About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent's transformation through industrialisation and export development.  

For more information, please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com. 

At the end of August, Moscow became a global fashion hub, welcoming industry representatives from over 65 countries to the BRICS+Fashion Summit (https://FashionSummit.org/)– the largest international event of its kind. This prestigious event provided an unparalleled platform for showcasing the ever-changing global fashion landscape, with Africa emerging as a particularly dynamic force.

The continent's fashion industry is experiencing remarkable growth. According to open-source data, African textile exports currently represent 2–3% of the global market – a figure which continues to rise steadily, attracting international investment and creating vital employment opportunities. Countries leading this transformation include South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya, which have established themselves as key market players by delivering high-quality products and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to sustainable development practices.

This momentum was clearly evident at the Summit, where Africa was well represented. Delegates from 15 African nations – spanning from Tunisia in the North to South Africa in the South – travelled to Moscow, making up a substantial and ever-growing proportion of the event's attendees. This strong presence gave the continent a valuable opportunity to showcase its achievements and share knowledge with global industry experts.

Sinсе the early days, the BRICS+ Fashion Summit (http://FashionSummit.org/) has been a key platform for addressing critical industry issues. This year's discussions ranged from striking the right balance between national brands and global giants to promoting "green manufacturing" – a concept that is already gaining significant traction across Africa. Nana Tamakloe, CEO of Accra Fashion Week in Ghana, offered compelling insights into how small local brands can successfully compete with global giants by relying on creativity and a unique heritage.

African designers' collections stand out through their profound cultural context, vibrant colour palettes and innovative use of traditional materials. A dedicated session explored how African designers blend contemporary trends with their distinctive cultural heritage. The discussion featured an impressive panel of industry leaders: Mahlet Teklemariam, Founder of Hub of Africa Fashion Week (Ethiopia), Susan Sabet, Board Member and Secretary General of Egyptian Fashion and Design Council,  Mahlet Afework, Founder and CEO of Mafi Mafi and Mafi Fashion Academy and Lab (Ethiopia),  Nana Tamakloe, CEO of Accra Fashion Week (Ghana), Mmantlha Sankoloba, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (Botswana) and Anis Montacer, President of Tunis Fashion Week.

A separate session focused on the dynamic transformation currently taking place in South Africa's fashion industry. Representatives from Soweto Fashion Week (Stephen Manzini), the University of Johannesburg (Tinyiko Baloyi), Cape Town College of Fashion Design (Gregg Maragelis) and the South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (Vusi Ngobeni) discussed how innovation, technological modernisation and improvements in quality are enabling South African brands to regain their position on the global stage. Adding star power to the extensive programme of the Summit was David Tlale, one of Africa's most  celebrated designers and a paticipant at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, who also presented his new collection at Moscow Fashion Week (http://MoscowFashion.ru/), held in parallel with the Summit.

David Tlale shared: “My vision is that we move beyond conversations into action — collaborating, supporting, and uplifting each other. For us in South Africa, “Proudly Made in South Africa by South Africans” has always been our mantra, and through collaboration within BRICS, we can take that pride onto global stages with strength and unity”.

Susan Sabet, Board Member and Secretary General of Egypt Fashion Week, reflected: 'BRICS+ is an excellent example of how large-scale fashion events that bring together an international audience with a shared vision and mission can drive cross-cultural exchange and communication. Fashion and craftsmanship are becoming increasingly important for establishing a unique brand identity, representing a country's culture and ethos."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS+ Fashion Summit.

Contact:
Amanda Smith
info@globaltalents.digital