Nigeria has officially secured the hosting rights for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2027), positioning Lagos as the centre of Africa’s largest marketplace for trade and investment.
The Federal Government signed the host country agreement in Lagos with key continental partners including the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, marking Nigeria’s takeover from Algeria, which hosted the fourth edition.
The previous edition generated trade and investment deals valued at about US$49.94 billion, underscoring the growing significance of the event in boosting commercial ties across the continent.
Scheduled for November 5–11, 2027, the fair will take place in Lagos and is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors and participants from more than 100 countries, while targeting more than US$50 billion in trade and investment deals.
The event will be held under the theme “Global Africa, Smart Trade – From Market Access to Market Power.”
Platform for Africa’s single market
Since its launch in 2018, the Intra-African Trade Fair has emerged as one of the continent’s most influential platforms for advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Across four editions, the fair has generated over US$167 billion in trade and investment deals and attracted more than 180,000 visitors from 132 countries, reflecting its growing role in promoting cross-border commerce and investment.
Delivering opening remarks, Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the IATF2027 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, described the signing of the agreement as a significant milestone for the continent’s economic integration agenda.
“The signing of this host agreement marks a momentous milestone for Nigeria and for the continent,” he said.
Obasanjo noted that hosting the trade fair in Lagos carries historical significance, recalling that the city hosted the landmark Lagos Plan of Action adopted in 1980, which championed Africa’s industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency.
“I am confident that IATF2027 will surpass all previous editions in both scope and impact as we advance our shared goal for a unified African marketplace under the AfCFTA,” he added.
Nigeria’s role in intra-African trade
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said hosting the trade fair presents an opportunity for Africa to shape the future of regional commerce at a time of global economic uncertainty.
“As we prepare to host Africa’s largest marketplace in Lagos in 2027, we have an opportunity not only to reflect on our reality but to design the future of African trade integration and economic transformation,” she said.
According to her, the event will be pivotal in accelerating trade and investment flows within Africa and strengthening regional value chains.
President of Afreximbank, George Elombi, also commended Nigeria’s leadership in advancing intra-African trade, noting that the country’s entrepreneurial dynamism and industrial base make it a natural host for the event.
“The trade fair is about building a strong pan-African single market and expanding intra-African trade beyond the levels we see today,” he said.
Expanding opportunities across sectors
The 2027 edition will feature several specialised platforms aimed at promoting investment and innovation, including trade exhibitions, an AfCFTA-focused trade and investment forum, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) platform for the creative economy, and the Africa Automotive Show.
Other highlights include an AU Youth Start-up Pavilion, the Africa Research and Innovation Hub, and a Sub-Sovereign Governments Network designed to strengthen regional and local government collaboration.
Officials say the fair will also host Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings, alongside special country showcases highlighting investment opportunities, tourism and cultural assets.
Strengthening Africa’s economic integration
Francisca Tatchoup Belobe, the African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, described the trade fair as a strategic instrument for boosting intra-African trade, which remains relatively low compared to other regions.
“As we prepare for the fifth edition of the IATF, we must ensure that it propels intra-African trade and helps Africa reposition itself in the global trade landscape,” she said.
Also speaking, Cynthia Gnassingbé‑Essonam of the AfCFTA Secretariat said Nigeria’s hosting of the event reinforces collective efforts to operationalise the continental free trade agreement.
“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 noted.
With Africa pushing to deepen regional value chains and reduce reliance on external markets, IATF2027 is expected to play a critical role in unlocking new trade opportunities and accelerating economic transformation across the continent.
