Algiers has opened its doors to the continent’s largest pan-African commercial gathering, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), which commenced on Thursday with projections of generating up to 44 billion US dollars in trade and investment agreements.

The event, held from 4–10 September at the International Conference Centre and the Palais des Expositions, marks Algeria’s first time hosting the fair. It has drawn more than 35,000 participants and over 2,000 exhibitors representing upwards of 75 countries, underscoring its role as a continental platform for business exchange and policy dialogue.

Jointly convened by the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union (AU), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, IATF2025 aims to accelerate Africa’s pursuit of economic integration by providing visibility for projects, showcasing investment opportunities, and enabling cross-border trade linkages.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune inaugurated the fair with a call for greater African economic self-determination. He highlighted the paradox that although Africa possesses approximately 30 per cent of the world’s natural resources and a population of 1.5 billion people, the continent accounts for only around 3 per cent of global trade and attracts roughly 6 per cent of global foreign direct investment, according to UNCTAD.

Tebboune pointed to structural constraints in infrastructure, energy provision, and financing as persistent barriers to growth. He emphasised Algeria’s efforts to strengthen intra-African connectivity, including the completion of sections of the Trans-Saharan Highway, the expansion of railway networks linking Algeria to Mali and Niger, and the upgrading of air, maritime, and banking corridors to enhance continental integration.

As host nation, Algeria is seeking to showcase its comparative advantages in energy production, agriculture, and manufacturing. By positioning itself as a gateway between North Africa and sub-Saharan markets, Algeria is also signalling its ambition to expand its role within the AfCFTA framework.

The fair builds on the achievements of previous editions held in Cairo (2018) and Durban (2021), which cumulatively secured over 74 billion US dollars in trade and investment deals, according to Afreximbank data. Beyond commercial exchanges, IATF has become a space for policy deliberation on industrialisation, creative industries, and the harmonisation of African standards.

Observers suggest that the scale and ambition of IATF2025 reflect both the opportunities and the contradictions of Africa’s economic trajectory. While the continent’s resources and demographic profile provide significant potential, translating this into sustained trade flows and industrial development requires coordinated strategies, long-term infrastructure investment, and the effective implementation of the AfCFTA.

By hosting the fair, Algeria is contributing to reshaping African economic narratives, emphasising cooperation among sovereign states and collective agency in defining Africa’s place in the global economy.

Algeria has inaugurated the third Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), aiming for 44 billion US dollars in trade and investment deals. The week-long event highlights Africa’s push for economic integration under AfCFTA, with Algeria showcasing its role in infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing.