LAGOS, March 10, 2026 — Nigeria has signed the host country agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 [ IATF2027 ], taking over the baton from Algeria, which hosted the fourth edition that generated US$ 49.94 billion in trade and investment deals.
The agreement was signed in Lagos, the designated host city, in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank [Afreximbank], the African Union Commission [AUC], and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat [AfCFTA Secretariat], reinforcing Nigeria’s central role in advancing intra-African trade and economic integration across the continent.
Scheduled for November 5-11, 2027, IATF2027 is targeting more than US$ 50bln in trade and investment deals, 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors, and participation from over 100 countries.
The fair will be held under the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade – From Market Access to Market Power.” It will feature a wide-ranging programme including trade exhibitions, an AfCFTA-focused trade and investment forum, Global Africa Day to strengthen ties with the African diaspora, and business networking platforms such as Business-to-Business [B2B], and Business-to-Government [B2G] meetings. The programme will also showcase Africa’s creative economy through the Creative Africa Nexus [CANEX] initiative.
Other highlights will include the Sub-Sovereign Governments Network, designed to foster collaboration among regional and local governments, country and sector-focused special days showcasing trade and tourism potential, the Africa Automotive Show, the AU Youth Start-up Pavilion for young entrepreneurs, and the Africa Research and Innovation Hub [ARIH] for academia and researchers.
Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has generated more than US$ 167bln in trade and investment deals and attracted over 180,000 visitors from 132 countries. The initiative brings together policy direction, financial backing and trade facilitation through a uniquely African institutional partnership.
Delivering the opening remarks, Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, said hosting the fair in Lagos carried historic significance.
“The signing of this host agreement marks a momentous milestone for Nigeria and for the continent. Bringing IATF2027 to Lagos is historically significant, as this city hosted the Lagos Plan of Action adopted in 1980, which championed Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency,” he said.
“I am confident that IATF2027 will surpass all previous editions in both scope and impact as we advance our shared goal of a unified African marketplace under the AfCFTA.”
Commenting on Nigeria’s expanding role in continental trade, Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the country’s hosting of the fair would help shape the future of African trade integration.
“As the international trading system faces profound challenges, we must remain resolute in our commitment to mutually beneficial, rules-based trade,” she said. “Hosting Africa’s largest marketplace in Lagos in 2027 offers us an opportunity not only to reflect on our realities but also to design the future of African trade integration and economic transformation.”
George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank, praised Nigeria’s leadership in advancing intra-African trade and said the country’s entrepreneurial energy made it a natural host.
“Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit gives us confidence that IATF2027 in Lagos will be a remarkable event that strengthens trade and investment across the continent,” he said. “Our collective duty is to use this platform to build value chains, create jobs and generate prosperity for our people.”
Nigeria’s economic scale, industrial capacity and vibrant SME sector position it as a key driver of regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework. The country is also a major producer of oil and gas, solid minerals such as limestone, iron ore, gold and lithium, and a range of agricultural commodities.
Francisca Tatchoup Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals at the African Union Commission, said the trade fair had become a strategic tool for boosting intra-African commerce.
“When we launched the IATF in 2018, it was a bold experiment in connectivity,” she said. “As we prepare for the fifth edition, we must ensure it propels intra-African trade and helps Africa reposition itself in the global trade landscape.”
Also speaking, Cynthia E. Gnassingbé-Essonam, Director of Private Sector Engagement and Communications at the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, representing Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, said Nigeria’s hosting of IATF2027 would reinforce efforts to operationalise the AfCFTA.
“The Intra-African Trade Fair has established itself as Africa’s premier marketplace for trade and investment, bringing together businesses, investors and policymakers from across the continent and the diaspora,” she said. “Nigeria’s hosting of IATF2027 is both timely and significant.”
https://thecooperator.news/afcfta-agra-partner-to-fast-track-intra-african-trade-in-agro-products/
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