Editorial: Obasanjo calls for greater intra-African trade

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered a compelling inaugural address at the opening ceremony of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 underway in Algiers, Algeria.

Obasanjo chairs the Advisory Council of the Intra African Trade Fair and emphasised that the IATF has evolved into a cornerstone of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

The former Nigerian president recounted the transformative journey of intra-African trade since the fair’s inception, celebrating its role in reshaping the continent’s economic landscape.

He noted that since the first edition in Cairo during 2018, the fair has facilitated over          US$100billion in trade and investment deals, catalysed regional value chains and empowered thousands of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale across borders.

“Intra-African trade is no longer a dream deferred,” Obasanjo declared. “It is a living reality – driven by African ingenuity, resilience and a shared commitment to economic sovereignty.”

Obasanjo also lauded the increasing participation of youth-led startups and women-owned businesses, which he described as the “heartbeat of Africa’s economic renaissance”.

This year’s edition of the trade fair features over 1,600 exhibitors from 55 countries and is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors.

Obasanjo concluded his address with a rallying call to African leaders and stakeholders: “Let us trade more with each other, invest more in each other and believe more in each other”.

The event aims to promote deeper economic integration under the AfCFTA, through signing concrete trade agreements and organising strategic sectoral forums.

IATF 2025 is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union Commission and AfCFTA Secretariat.

IATF provides a unique space for African businesses to showcase goods and services, engage in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) exchanges and explore intra-African market linkages.

Since its inception, the IATF has grown into Africa’s premier trade and investment marketplace.

The post Editorial: Obasanjo calls for greater intra-African trade appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story