The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), holding in Algiers under the theme ‘Gateway to New Opportunities’, has reaffirmed the pivotal role of African entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in shaping the continent’s future. The fair has attracted delegations from 140 countries, more than 2,000 African and international companies, including about 200 Algerian firms, and tens of thousands of professional visitors.
Beyond trade and investment, IATF 2025 has positioned itself as a hub for partnerships, knowledge sharing, and ecosystem building for African businesses. At the SME & Development Exhibition, discussions focused on embedding social impact into business operations while ensuring profitability. Participants showcased ventures that simultaneously create value for communities and deliver sustainable financial returns, proving that purpose-driven models can boost investor confidence and economic development.
The SME Resilience Masterclass offered practical tools to help businesses strengthen operations, manage risks, and adapt to disruptions. Experts emphasized that resilience, sound financial planning, and adaptive leadership are essential for African enterprises navigating the uncertainties of a globalized economy.
In a keynote at the main plenary, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo urged African entrepreneurs and future leaders to embrace intra-African cooperation as a driver of unity and prosperity. He stressed that collaboration between governments, businesses, and communities remains key to building a cohesive market that fosters innovation and shared growth.
Parallel events such as the Africa Trade and Investment Forum, the Africa Automotive Show, the African Research and Innovation Hub, the AU Youth Startup Program, and the Creative Africa Nexus have spotlighted Africa’s potential in technology, mobility, energy, and creative industries. Exhibitions, business-to-business meetings, and innovation showcases have facilitated connections between investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
Concrete outcomes have also emerged. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency and Elsewedy Electric – Algeria reflects Algeria’s strategy of attracting strategic investments and fostering regional collaboration. Such agreements highlight the fair’s commitment to translating dialogue into measurable economic impact.
Looking ahead, sessions on digital trade, Africa-U.S. relations, and the AfCFTA private sector platform, alongside the IATF Hackathon, point to the fair’s broad agenda of strengthening intra-African commerce while harnessing technology to create a borderless market.
With initiatives such as the AU Youth Startup Program, CANEX, and ARIH offering mentorship, funding opportunities, and exposure for young innovators, IATF 2025 is more than a commercial exhibition. It is evolving into a platform that nurtures Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs while advancing trade and sustainable development.
The central message of the fair remains clear: Africa’s SMEs and entrepreneurs are not just participants but drivers of transformation. By combining resilience, innovation, and purpose, they are redefining business on the continent and laying the foundation for inclusive growth in a rapidly changing global economy.
