The Federal Government has officially signed the hosting agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) scheduled for 2027, selecting Lagos as the official host city for the continental event. The fair is aimed at boosting trade, investment, and economic integration across Africa.
The agreement was formalized in Lagos through a partnership between the Nigerian government, the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. With the signing, Nigeria officially assumes the hosting responsibilities from Algeria, which managed the fourth edition of the fair, generating $49.94 billion in trade and investment deals.
IATF 2027 is scheduled to take place from November 5 to 11, 2027, and aims to attract over 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors, and participants from more than 100 countries. The fair targets $50 billion in trade and investment deals under the theme, “Global Africa Repositioned – From Market Access to Market.”
The event will feature a wide range of activities including trade exhibitions, an AfCFTA-focused trade and investment forum, Global Africa Day to strengthen ties with the African diaspora, business-to-business and business-to-government platforms, and the Creative Africa Nexus to showcase Africa’s growing creative economy. Other highlights include the Sub-Sovereign Governments Network for regional and local government integration, country and private sector special days, the Africa Automotive Show, the AU Youth Start-up Pavilion, and the Africa Research and Innovation Hub for academics and researchers.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the IATF 2027 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, described the hosting agreement as a historic milestone for Nigeria and the African continent. He highlighted Lagos’s symbolic significance as the city that hosted the Lagos Plan of Action, which championed Africa’s industrialization and economic self-sufficiency. He expressed confidence that IATF 2027 would surpass all previous editions in both scope and impact, advancing the shared vision for a unified African market under AfCFTA.
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, praised Nigeria’s leadership in promoting intra-African trade and noted that the country’s entrepreneurial spirit would ensure the success of IATF 2027. He emphasized that the fair provides a platform to strengthen trade, create value chains, generate jobs, and foster prosperity across the continent.
Speaking on the broader economic significance, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, highlighted that hosting the event offers Nigeria a strategic opportunity to shape the future of African trade integration. She stated that IATF 2027 would be crucial for accelerating continental trade and investment, aligning markets, industries, and talent to deliver a prosperous and interconnected Africa.
The AfCFTA Secretariat, represented by the Director of Private Sector Engagement and Communications, Cynthia E. Gnassingbé-Essonam, emphasized that the trade fair has established itself as Africa’s premier marketplace for trade and investment. She noted that the fair brings together businesses, investors, and policymakers from across the continent and diaspora, providing a practical platform to advance intra-African commerce.
The African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals, Francisca Belobe, stressed that IATF 2027 would play a pivotal role in repositioning Africa in the global trade landscape. She noted that the fair, since its launch in 2018, has become a strategic tool to promote intra-African trade, which remains below its potential.
Since its inception, the Intra-African Trade Fair has facilitated over $167 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted more than 180,000 visitors from 132 countries across four editions, making it the continent’s largest and most impactful marketplace for trade and investment. IATF 2027 in Lagos is expected to continue this legacy, driving industrialization, investment, and regional economic integration across Africa.
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