Algiers, Algeria – AfCFTA leadership has presented an ambitious strategy for an integrated, green, and industrial Africa driven by intracontinental trade and investment during the opening of IATF2025 in Algiers.
The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), H.E. Wamkele Mene, gave a strong call to action at the opening of the 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers.
He stated that Africa’s market is “open for business” and urged governments, investors, and companies to take advantage of the opportunity to accelerate regional integration and economic transformation.
The Fair, which is being hosted by the Algerian government under the theme “Gateway to New Opportunities,” has attracted a record 35,000 attendees and 2,000 exhibitors. It is anticipated that US$44 billion in trade and investment agreements will be finalized, exceeding the US$43 billion signed in Cairo in 2023.
In his introductory remarks, the Secretary-General stated that “the real success of IATF lies not only in numbers, but in the jobs created, the SMEs empowered, and the markets unlocked. Africa is in charge of its own destiny, and the AfCFTA is the means by which we will get there.”
Afreximbank’s most recent African Trade Report 2025 states that intra-African trade increased 12.4% from 2023 to $220.3 billion in 2024. According to the trade data, exports of basic commodities are gradually but strategically shifting toward more industrial and value-added goods like electronics, machinery, cars, and chemicals.
Stronger manufacturing value chains and logistics are necessary to maintain this transformation, which the Secretary-General said marks the continent’s move away from reliance on basic commodities and toward industrial diversification.
He also highlighted the role of key AfCFTA instruments in facilitating trade, including: The Rules of Origin framework, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the e-Certificate of Origin, the Digital Trade Protocol, and the AfCFTA Private Sector Engagement Strategy.
The official opening of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, a facility intended to mitigate short-term revenue losses for nations and assist SMEs and industries in adjusting to the new market realities of the free trade area, is a significant milestone of this year’s fair.
According to the Secretary-General, “this is a strong signal that integration is not only about ambition but also about solidarity and practical support for those who need it most.”
Four strategic imperatives were outlined in the speech to ensure the AfCFTA’s success:
Boosting Connectivity and Infrastructure: Calls to accelerate the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Investment in trade corridors, digital infrastructure, and logistics hubs remains urgent.
Inclusive Integration: Support mechanisms like the Adjustment Fund are crucial to ensure no country or firm is left behind.
Mobilizing Domestic and Diaspora Capital: The African diaspora and local investors are critical engines of growth in sectors such as agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and digital technology.
Green and Sustainable Industrialization: Emphasized the need for trade that supports renewable energy, climate resilience, and sustainable development across the continent.
The IATF has evolved into a continental deal-making platform where policy is put into action, going much beyond a networking gathering. In keeping with the goals of the AfCFTA, participants are anticipated to establish new initiatives, sign new Memorandums of Understanding, and strengthen regional value chains.
The Secretary-General said, “Let us use this Fair not only as a showcase, but as a platform for action and concrete commitments. Let’s work together to make it clear to the world that Africa is prepared.”
The fair, which takes place in Algiers for an entire week, is anticipated to give Africa’s single market, which is the biggest in the world in terms of the number of countries, a new life as it moves from planning to actual, revolutionary implementation.
Reported by: Anthony Williams
