The Federal Government has signed a hosting agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), with Lagos selected as the host city for the continental event aimed at boosting trade and investment across Africa.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Lagos in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
The ceremony also marked Nigeria’s formal takeover of the hosting baton from Algeria, which hosted the fourth edition of the trade fair that generated $49.94bn in trade and investment deals.
Scheduled to hold from November 5 to 11, 2027, the IATF2027 is targeting $50bn in trade and investment deals, 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors and participation from more than 100 countries.
The event will be held under the theme, “Global Africa Repositioned – From Market Access to Market,” and will feature a range of programmes 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 showcasing Africa’s creative economy.
Other highlights of the fair 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.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, described the signing of the hosting agreement as a milestone for both Nigeria and the African continent.
He noted that bringing the trade fair to Lagos was historically significant because the city hosted the Lagos Plan of Action, which championed Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency.
“The signing of this hosting agreement marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and for the continent. I am confident that IATF2027 will surpass all previous editions in both scope and impact as we advance our shared goal for a unified African marketplace under the AfCFTA,” Obasanjo said.
President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, commended Nigeria for its leadership in advancing intra-African trade and for accepting to host the 2027 edition of the fair.
He expressed confidence that Lagos would host a successful event capable of strengthening trade and investment across the continent.
“The trade fair is about building a strong pan-African single market and expanding intra-African trade beyond the levels we see today. Our collective duty is to use this platform to build value chains, create jobs and generate prosperity for our people,” Elombi said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said hosting the event presents Nigeria with an opportunity to shape the future of African trade integration and economic transformation.
She noted that the work required to advance the AfCFTA framework is extensive but critical for Africa’s economic growth and prosperity.
“IATF 2027 will therefore be a defining moment in accelerating and transforming intra-African trade and investment. Together, we must align our markets, our industries and our talent to deliver the prosperous Africa we envision,” she said.
Director of Private Sector Engagement and Communications at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Cynthia E. Gnassingbé-Essonam, said the trade fair has evolved into Africa’s premier marketplace for trade and investment.
She noted that the success of the AfCFTA will depend not only on agreements and policies but also on practical platforms that enable African businesses to trade with one another.
The African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Belobe, also said the trade fair would help reposition Africa in the global trade landscape.
Belobe noted that the initiative was launched in 2018 as a strategic platform to increase intra-African trade, which remains relatively low compared to other regions.
She expressed optimism that the 2027 edition in Nigeria would ignite new momentum for Africa’s investment, industrialisation and trade.
Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has generated more than $167bn in trade and investment deals and attracted over 180,000 visitors from 132 countries across its four editions.
