Explore IATF2027
What is IATF2027? – Discover Africa’s Premier Trade Fair
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with African Union Commission and AfCFTA Secretariat, brings you the 5th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027) to be hosted by Nigeria, in Lagos.
The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade significantly over the coming years. Increasing intra-African trade can foster industrialization, promote value addition, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness on the global stage.
IATF2027 will provide a unique and valuable platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.4 billion people with a GDP of over US$3.5 trillion created under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
B2B & B2G Matchmaking at IATF2027 – Trade and Government Connections
The platform will provide opportunities for matchmaking, business exchanges and conclusion of business and investment deals. This is supported by a dedicated African Buyers Programme which will provide trade facilitation and financing solutions to Africa Buyers.
What is the African Buyers Programme?
The African Buyers Programme is designed to identify and connect qualified buyers with credible suppliers of “made in Africa” products and services, facilitating trade and fostering business exchanges. By offering dedicated support, the programme aims to promote intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ultimately strengthening economic ties across the continent. The platform will provide opportunities for matchmaking, business exchanges and conclusion of business and investment deals.
Get informed and empowered as the Intra-African Fair targets and supports buyers as key players in driving Intra-African trade through the African Buyers Programme.
The African Buyers’ Programme benefits a wide range of businesses, including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and export trading companies, as well as any other enterprises that require goods for resale or operational use.
At IATF2027, attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to onboard onto the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), a powerful digital trade ecosystem designed to connect buyers, sellers, and traders with trusted partners across Africa and beyond.
ATG streamlines trade by providing essential tools to verify business partners, access real-time market intelligence and regulations, facilitate seamless cross-border payments in local and hard currencies through PAPSS, and unlock a variety of financing options to support business growth.
Whether you’re looking to expand into new markets, reduce transaction costs, or build trust with verified partners, ATG simplifies trade, accelerates deal-making, and empowers businesses to thrive. Don’t miss this chance to transform your trade journey—join Africa Trade Gateway at IATF2027 and unlock new opportunities!
Key Benefits of The Buyers Programme
CANEX at IATF2027 – Empowering Africa’s Creative Economy
What is The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX)?
The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) as drivers of both economic growth and cultural engagement primarily generate income through the trade and commercialisation of intellectual property rights whilst creating new jobs in higher occupational skills, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
With advancements in technology, especially the digital and streaming revolutions, creative and knowledge-based industries have become leaders in disruption and innovation, emerging amongst the most dynamic sectors in the global economy. In addition to its economic benefits, cultural and creative industries generate non-monetary value that can contribute significantly to achieving people centered, inclusive, and sustainable development.
The event provides a unique platform for facilitating business, investment, collaboration, partnerships, and inspiration amongst creatives across the value chain. The objectives of CANEX @ IATF2027, include gathering continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services, and to explore business and investment opportunities within the rapidly expanding creative economy.
Key Objectives of The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX)
Increasing Africa’s share of global cultural trade flows through trade and investment promotion activities.
Key Benefits of the Automotive Show
African Research & Innovation Hub – Advancing Intra-African Trade
IATF seeks to enrich participants’ academic and professional development, including that of national researchers, while contributing to the broader objectives of enhancing intra-African trade, fostering economic development, and building a connected, informed, and empowered next generation of African trade and investment leaders across all fields.
IATF would like to invite national researchers, academics, undergraduate and postgraduate students across the continent to express their interest in participating in future IATF editions, starting with IATF2027, and to support those selected.
This hub will allow:
- University students and academics to exhibit prototype of inventions and showcase their first class published research papers on agreed issues. It will also foster collaboration and enable universities to solicit students.
- Researchers at national research institutions to exhibit their prototypes to attract investors and secure commercial support for bringing their research outputs to market.
Click here to get more information about applications for the Africa Research and Innovation Hub.
Trade & Investment Forum at IATF2027 – Explore Opportunities Under AfCFTA
The four-day conference will feature leading African and international speakers and a variety of sessions dealing with African trade and investment issues.
Specifically, the conference will feature dedicated sessions on trade and investment opportunities under the AfCFTA and will also include training workshops covering exporting, standards, and marketing. It will also discuss key barriers affecting intra-African trade and investment and provide practical solutions.
Global Africa Day – Celebrating African Diaspora Commerce and Culture
IATF2027 Global Africa Day will highlight commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its Diaspora, featuring a Global Africa Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase.
The upcoming IATF2027 Global Africa Day will shine a spotlight on the commercial and cultural connections within the diaspora. The event will include a Global Africa Summit, marketplace, exhibition, deal room, and a cultural and gastronomic showcase.
Key Features of The Global Africa Day
IATF2027 Trade Exhibitions – Showcase Products & Services to a Global Audience
Countries, large corporations, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can set up pavilions and exhibition stands, which will enable them to customize their exhibitions to fit their unique requirements. This offers private and public entities opportunities to showcase their goods and services.
As an exhibitor, you will have unrivalled opportunities to present your business to thousands of buyers and stakeholders from the African continent and beyond.Take advantage of over 35,000 visitors from more than 140 countries across the world which are expected to converge in Lagos, Nigeria.
During the week-long Fair, more than 2,000 exhibitors, including businesses from the African continent and globally, will be showcasing their goods and services to visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. This is projected to translate into over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals.
Showcase the best of your business with dedicated company and national pavillions that serve as a one-stop shop for networking, business, and investment opportunities.
Key Benefits of Trade Exhibitions
AU Youth Start-Up Programme
The AU Youth Start-Up Programme is an initiative of the African Union Commission in collaboration with Afreximbank and their partners. The programme will provide a platform for youth start-ups and SMEs throughout Africa to gain support through capacity development, mentoring, networking, access to finance, supportive infrastructure, enabling policies and market linkages.
The AU Youth Start-Up programme will feature a dedicated Pavilion for youth start-ups in Africa, and those owned by Africans in Diaspora, where they can showcase their innovative ideas, prototypes, products, and services. The IATF will offer opportunities for matchmaking with venture capitalists, entrepreneurship training, and networking among the youth and other delegates at the Trade Fair.
Key Objectives of The AU Youth Start-Up Programme
AfSNET – Empowering Sub-Sovereign Governments in African Trade
In 2021, African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or “the Bank”) established the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (“AfSNET” or “the Network”) as a vehicle for promoting intra-African trade, investment and industrialisation at the Sub-Sovereign level.
The Bank defines an African Sub-Sovereign Government as a division of a sovereign State designated as a region, state, province, or local authority, with delineated governance and powers within which they operate. Typically, a sub-sovereign government will have its own legislature and mandate, which includes the collection of revenue, expenditure, socio-economic development, and promotion of trade and investment in the area under its jurisdiction.
The Bank therefore established the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network to promote intra-African trade and investment, educational and cultural exchanges and effective and active engagement among sub-sovereigns in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for the development and prosperity of the continent. The Network, therefore, aims to create an interactive platform for Government to Government (G2G), Business to Government (B2G) and Business to Business (B2B) information exchanges and creation of synergies in a structured and deliberate manner.
Key Objectives of AfSNET
IATF2027 Special Days – Celebrate Trade, Innovation & Culture
The Country Day opportunity under the Special Days at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027) is to provide countries a unique and prominent platform to take centre stage for the promotion of business sectors, its trade and investment credentials, cultural and tourism opportunities, the best products and services on offer to export markets as well as opportunities for investors. This offers an opportunity for a country to have a high-level delegation led by the Head of State and captains of industry to showcase the country’s trade and investment opportunities to African and non-African investors and buyers for an entire day.
The Special Day concept is a vehicle that enables designated countries and corporates to have a day where they can enjoy prominence and special focus on their country and business representation at the IATF, giving them unencumbered opportunities.
Key Benefits of Special Days
IATF2027 Virtual Exhibitions –Africa's Virtual Marketplace
IATF Virtual is a year-round platform to connect buyers and sellers from Africa and beyond.
IATF Virtual brings together exhibitors and visitors from all sectors. It provides a platform for attendees and non-attendees alike to connect in real time before, during and after the event.
Key Benefits of IATF Virtual
Discover the Best of Africa’s Trade Market at IATF2027
Meet over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing their work from different sectors and countries across Africa. Be part of a unique African platform to seek investment, forge agreements and promote international cooperation.
Key Speaker Insights – Learn from Africa’s Trade and Business Leaders
Join thought leaders and pioneers at powerful keynotes, panel discussions and round table sessions. Share ideas and gain new perspectives on the future of African development and business.
Meet Africa’s Most Inspiring Creators at IATF2027
IATF2027 will be a haven for the curious and innovative. With four streams - arts & crafts, film, music, fashion - visitors can explore the gigantic creative know-how of the continent with artists from across Africa.
Face-to-Face Deal Making at IATF2027 – Real Connections, Real Business
IATF supports attendees to make deals, not just connections. We're aiming to boost trade and investment across Africa and beyond, with international trade organisations and agencies providing routes into markets outside Africa. Mark your successful IATF deals with signing ceremonies in dedicated pavilions.
