The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is set to take place from 21 to 25 November 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The announcement was made by Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade, Industry, and SME Promotion, during a visit to the exhibition centre on Thursday, 23 February.
"This visit to the exhibition centre is an opportunity for us to show the members of the IATF Advisory Board that Côte d'Ivoire is working to meet its commitments in terms of the construction of infrastructure to host the next Inter-African Trade Fair, scheduled to take place in Abidjan from 21 to 25 November 2023," stated Mr. Diarrassouba. He was accompanied by members of the IATF Advisory Board, the Chairman of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Okechukwu Oramah, and the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, who led the visit.
The minister assured the delegation that the Ivorian government was taking all necessary measures to ensure the completion of the infrastructure by the end of May. He also encouraged both the public and African partners to continue registering for the event to guarantee its success.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo commended Côte d'Ivoire's efforts in preparing for the event and emphasized the importance of the free trade zone in fostering the development of African industries, particularly in the processing of raw products. Similarly, Prof. Oramah expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved and congratulated the government for its commitment to making the IATF a success.
Côte d'Ivoire was selected as the host country for the 2023 edition of the IATF following the successful 2nd edition held in Durban, South Africa, from 15 to 21 November 2021. The upcoming trade fair is expected to attract around 16,000 exhibitors and facilitate commercial contracts worth approximately $43 billion.
The IATF is an initiative of the African Union, in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), designed to promote intra-African trade. It plays a crucial role in the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), contributing to increased economic cooperation and integration across the continent.
Credit: AIP