Africa’s share of global trade has stagnated at a mere 3% for decades, a figure that sharply contrasts with the performance of other regions. Intra-continental trade in Europe accounts for 70% of its total trade, Asia follows with 60%, and North America maintains 40%. In stark contrast, intra-African trade stands at just about 15%.
This disparity has become a growing concern for African leaders and economic institutions. Experts warn that without meaningful transformation of Africa’s internal trading systems, the continent will remain vulnerable to external shocks, slow industrial growth, and youth unemployment.
Recognizing this, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, held the 2025 IATF Ghana High-Level Roadshow in Accra to build momentum for the upcoming Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), scheduled to take place in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4–10, 2025.
The roadshow aims to generate awareness and galvanize participation in IATF2025, which is set to be Africa’s largest trade and investment event. It will serve as a marketplace for businesses, investors, governments, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and seal deals across multiple sectors.
Speaking at the event, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, said the IATF2025 will be instrumental in changing Africa’s trade narrative.
“Our trade has often been extractive, sending raw materials abroad and re-importing finished goods. AfCFTA is transforming this paradigm,” Mene declared. “By dismantling trade barriers, reducing tariffs, and promoting regional production networks, we are encouraging value addition within Africa.”
He emphasized that trade liberalization under AfCFTA is a pivotal tool in reengineering Africa’s economic model, one that fosters industrialization, regional integration, and inclusive prosperity.
The AfCFTA Secretariat is targeting investments in key sectors such as agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, and energy. These sectors are seen as vital to building resilient regional value chains (RVCs), which can facilitate economic diversification and reduce dependence on raw commodity exports.
“Standardizing customs procedures and regulatory frameworks across member states is critical. We are building regional infrastructure that connects economies, shortens delivery timelines, and slashes trade costs,” Mene said.
He further noted that IATF2025 will feature a dedicated AfCFTA pavilion showcasing the achievements of the Agreement, including new trade deals, industrial partnerships, and jobs created as a result of increased cross-border collaboration.
The significance of IATF2025 is further underscored by its timing. Africa is expected to be the second-fastest-growing economic region in 2025, with 40 countries, including Ghana, projected to achieve higher growth rates than in 2023.
Despite this promising outlook, the continent still faces significant hurdles. Informal cross-border trade, lack of accurate data, limited trade in services, and infrastructural bottlenecks all suppress the actual scale of internal trade.
But Mene remains optimistic. “This is a pivotal moment in Africa’s development journey. The future of African trade is unfolding now, and IATF2025 is the platform where strategy meets reality,” he said.
He urged all Ghanaians and Africans to take ownership of the IATF2025 agenda and work together to make it the most successful edition yet.
By reorienting the continent’s trade focus inward, leveraging the AfCFTA framework, and investing in strategic sectors, Africa has a genuine opportunity to unlock its long-awaited economic transformation.
