- …. poised to boost commerce across Africa
The second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) scheduled for November 2021 kicks off today in Durban, South Africa.
The Fair will see Durban host key figures from the world of trade – including entrepreneurs, financiers, governments and regulators – on one platform to deliberate on trade acceleration and investment throughout the African continent.
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, IATF2021 is being held at Durban International Convention Centre, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from 15 to 21 November 2021.
IATF2021 is expected to attract over 10,000 attendees from across Africa with US$40billion of trade and investment deals set to be concluded at the event; meaning the conference offers unrivalled business and commercial networking opportunities and will boost intra-African trade and investment.
Attendees will be able to see 1,100 exhibitors showcasing their goods and services, while Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government exchanges provide opportunities for further deals, Business matchmaking and networking.
Speakers at the conference are from some of the highest tiers of business and government in Africa, with unparalleled commercial and government insight into economic opportunities and threats in Africa. Some of this year’s speakers from the world of politics and government include: H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Ambassador Albert M. Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry; and Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
Many of the continent’s most influential business luminaries in attendance, including Prof. Benedict O. Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank and co-convener of IATF2021; Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industry Limited, this year’s main sponsor; Ahmed Elsewedy, President and CEO of Elsewedy Electric; Akin Dada, Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Bank Ecobank Group, and many more.
This year’s IATF conference will also be taking a deep dive into a number of thematic areas, with additional networking and conference facilities in each of the following vertical areas:
The IATF Youth Start-Up programme will highlight the support needed for youth-owned start-ups and small and medium sized businesses to thrive, including capacity development, mentoring, access to finance, supportive infrastructure, government policy and market linkages.
The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) will provide a platform for Africa’s creative and cultural sectors to connect with policymakers, prominent investors, and thought-leaders in the creative sector.
The IATF Automotive Show will showcase Africa’s dynamic automotive sector, encouraging the continent’s car and car equipment manufacturers, assemblers and component suppliers to exhibit their products and find out more about other businesses and market opportunities.
Dedicated Country Days will allow participating countries to showcase trade and investment opportunities, as well as any tourism and cultural attraction. South Africa, the host country, kicks-off Day One, followed by Egypt on Day Two, Cote d’Ivoire on Day Three and Nigeria on the fourth Day.
About the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021)
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) kicks-off in Durban from today 15 to 21 November 2021.
IATF2021 provides a platform to promote trade under the AfCFTA. It will bring together continental and global buyers and sellers, and will enable stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and economic integration of the continent.
In addition to establishing business-to-business and business-to-government exchange platforms for business deals and advisory services, IATF2021 also operates IATF2021 Virtual – an interactive online platform that replicates the physical event.
IATF2021 will also focus on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programmes. A conference will run alongside the exhibition and feature high-profile speakers and panellists addressing topical issues relating to trade, trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, trade-enabling infrastructure, trade standards, industrialisation, regional value chains and investment.
