Nigeria has formally signed the host country agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), marking a major step toward strengthening trade and investment across the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
The agreement was signed in Lagos, the designated host city, in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
The signing effectively passes the hosting baton from Algeria, which organized the fourth edition of the fair and facilitated trade and investment deals worth US$49.94 billion.
Scheduled to take place from November 5 to 11, 2027, IATF2027 aims to surpass previous editions by generating more than US$50 billion in trade and investment agreements. Organisers expect over 100,000 visitors, about 2,500 exhibitors, and participation from more than 100 countries.
The fair will be held under the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade – From Market Access to Market Power.” Key activities will include large-scale trade exhibitions, an AfCFTA-focused trade and investment forum, business-to-business and business-to-government networking platforms, and a series of specialised programmes highlighting Africa’s creative economy, innovation ecosystem and youth entrepreneurship.
Delivering opening remarks, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian president and chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council, described the signing as a historic milestone for both Nigeria and Africa’s economic integration agenda.
He noted that hosting the trade fair in Lagos carries symbolic significance, recalling the adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980, which promoted Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-reliance.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the 2027 event would come at a critical time when the global trading system faces increasing uncertainty. She emphasised that the trade fair would help accelerate implementation of the AfCFTA by connecting markets, industries and talent across the continent.
For Afreximbank, the institution that conceptualised the trade fair in 2018, the event remains a strategic tool to expand intra-African trade and strengthen continental value chains.
George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said Nigeria’s entrepreneurial depth, industrial capacity and large domestic market make it a natural host for the 2027 edition. He added that the platform would help African businesses build stronger supply chains, create jobs and unlock new investment opportunities.
Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has generated more than US$167 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted over 180,000 visitors from 132 countries. Organisers believe the 2027 edition will further accelerate Africa’s efforts to build a unified single market and deepen economic integration across the continent.