Economy poised to leverage IATF 2025, to exert trade dominance

By Kingsley Webora TANKEH

Ahead of the biggest AfCFTA regional marketplace – the Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2025 (IATF 2025) in Algiers later this year – the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has convened a meeting with the Algerian ambassador to discuss opportunities for Ghanaian businesses at the fair.

Speaking at the meeting, 1st Vice President of GNCCI, Mrs. Emelia Assiakwa, emphasised the need for Ghana to utilise its privilege of hosting the AfCFTA headquarters and grow exports to other African markets.

“There’s been opportunity situated in Ghana and we’re not leveraging on that to do anything. If we don’t leverage on this, we are not helping ourselves.”

She stressed that there should be a deliberate shift from import and export of raw materials to adding value in-country to seize the AfCFTA one-market opportunity.

“How can we get partners over there to enable us add value to what we already have and then export?”

She urged Ghanaian businesses to forge partnerships that will advance the country’s industrialisation and agribusiness agenda.

“It’s not only about products but how best we can bring companies to Ghana. In Ghana we have our Shea butter, we have our Cocoa, we have our Cassava. These are things that sometimes we export raw. How can we add value to them and export to these countries?”

In an effort to promote broader participation, the Chamber has not set any restrictive criteria for businesses wanting to attend the fair. “We’re not setting any criteria to limit people because we are dealing with MSMEs and the giants as well.

“All that we need is you are ready and want partners to do it. We don’t want to limit people.”

The brief meeting, themed ‘IATF 2025: Opportunities for Ghanaian Businesses’, brought exporters, industry players, government officials, bankers, AfCFTA representatives and other relevant stakeholders to prepare for grabbing the ‘lion’s share’ in the upcoming trade fair.

Algerian Ambassador to Ghana Mr. Mousad Louhaidia enumerated several opportunities available to Ghanaian businesses on Algerian soil. He however emphasised that the trade fair is a very important step toward African unity, while acknowledging Ghana’s role as a pioneer for Pan-Africanism and regional economic integration.

“We are really enthusiastic to see Ghanaian businesses participate massively in the fair.”

He said preparations are far advanced, indicating that the embassy is working assiduously to improve human and logistics flow between the two trading partners – revealing that talks are ongoing for a direct flight from Accra to Algiers.

Organised by the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA), the IATF 2025 is slated to take place in the Algerian capital, Algiers, from September 4-10, 2025.

The fair will focus on investment-ready projects that have potential to boost regional value chains, agri-processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive and digital services.

IATF 2025 presents a strategic opportunity for Ghanaian businesses to showcase Ghana’s potential on the continental stage, framed within the broader vision of African economic self-reliance.

The Head of Communications at AfCFTA, Mrs. Grace Khosa, emphasised the critical choice Africa has to make amid geopolitical and trade tensions that are likely to spill over and impact African trade. She invoked the vision of founding leaders like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

“Africa can decide to isolate and insulate itself. We believe that the time has come for a realisation that it is possible for us to really depend on each other and see meaningful trade happening in this continent.”

She stressed that the intra-African trade fair is not only a marketplace but a moment of continental convergence. “It is where business meets policy, where innovation meets capital, where African ambition meets African opportunity.”

She noted that Ghanaian businesses have an edge in this fair, citing the enormous participation of AfCFTA-guided trade initiatives – which she said provide “resounding proof” and “proof of concept” that trade under AfCFTA is possible.

“We as a secretariat encourage Ghana’s private sector to seize the moment, to prepare strategically, to engage fully and to showcase the very best of what we know this country can offer.”

She stated that the fair will serve as a platform for human connection and familiarisation, which are critical to building trust. “We cannot trade with each other if we do not know each other. Platforms like the IATF matter. They allow us to build trust, forward relationships and strengthen the fabric of our shared community.”

She expressed the AfCFTA secretariat’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for private sector businesses to thrive in the one-Africa market.

Mrs. Khosa highlighted strides made in that direction, including operationalisation of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and Adjustment Fund. According to her, these interventions eliminate many of the barriers that inhibit Intra-African trade.

Headquartered in Ghana, AfCFTA serve to promote intra-African trade and collective growth of the entire African economy.

To this end, it organises the Intra-African Trade Fair annually – where more than 2,000 exhibitors converge in one African city to exhibit their products and forge partnerships for growth. IATF 2025 will provide a valuable platform for businesses to access the one-Africa market of 1.4 billion people with an estimated GDP of over US$3.5trillion.

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