Algeria is intensifying its efforts to increase trade with other African nations, strategically leveraging opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The nation is gearing up to host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025, Africa’s premier trade and investment event.
In a keynote address during the recent Algeria IATF 2025 Business Roadshow, H.E. Prof. Kamal Rezig, Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion, highlighted key initiatives aimed at enhancing continental connectivity. These include vital infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Sahara Highway, the Zouerate Road linking the Tindouf border with Mauritania, and the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline and fiber optic cable.
Improving business climate and promoting exports
“To improve the business climate in Algeria, the State has endeavored to ensure a stable, transparent, stimulating, and attractive economic and institutional environment for investment,” stated H.E. Rezig. He added that this includes legislative stability for both local and foreign investment, simplified administrative procedures, and the strengthening of the banking system, capital market, and insurance sector. The development of human resources capabilities and skills is also a priority, aimed at adapting the economy to global transformations. Beyond developing key sectors, Algeria is actively promoting exports within the AfCFTA framework.
According to the African Trade Report 2025, Algeria’s share of total intra-African trade saw a marginal increase from 1.9% in 2022 to 2.2% in 2024. Mineral fuels and oils constitute a dominant 91.5% of its exports. The “Country at a Glance: Algeria 2024” report identifies Tunisia (70.7%), South Africa (6.7%), Côte d’Ivoire (3.6%), Nigeria (3.1%), and Senegal (2.7%) as its top five African export partners in 2023 by volume. Conversely, its top five import partners were Mauritania (38.8%), Tunisia (32.7%), Côte d’Ivoire (9%), Morocco (6%), and Uganda (2.2%).
IATF 2025: A marketplace for African economic emancipation
The Algeria IATF 2025 Business Roadshow, co-hosted by Afreximbank and the Algerian government, focused on promoting intra-African trade, bringing together government officials, businesses, investors, and executives from across the continent. This roadshow was one of five held in key cities—Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Lagos—in preparation for the fourth edition of IATF. The biennial event is scheduled to take place in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4-10, 2025, providing a crucial platform for businesses to showcase goods and exchange trade and investment information within Africa’s single market.
H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF 2025 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria, emphasized the immense opportunity intra-African trade presents for African economies to enhance resilience. “Through the IATF, the largest, go-to trade and investment fair on the continent, Africa needs to join hands and build on the gains that have been achieved so far in promoting trade with itself under the AfCFTA framework,” he stated. He added that AfCFTA provides an opportunity for the continent to achieve economic emancipation and self-reliance, build “the Africa We Want,” and unlock vast potential while accelerating industrialization and job creation.
Previous IATF editions have attracted over 70,000 participants and 4,500 exhibitors from over 130 countries, generating more than $100 billion in trade and investment deals, underscoring the immense potential for intra-African trade and investment.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice-President for Intra-African Trade & Export Development, noted that while infrastructure deficits are often cited, a more fundamental barrier to low intra-continental trade is the lack of access to trade and market information. “Afreximbank launched the IATF—not merely as an exhibition but as a marketplace for the AfCFTA and a platform to close the trade information gap,” she explained.
She highlighted Algeria’s strong participation in past fairs, benefiting from over 44 billion in trade and investment deals.
IATF 2025 will feature a comprehensive program, including trade exhibitions by countries and businesses, and the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program, which spotlights cultural industries with dedicated exhibitions and summits on fashion, music, film, arts and crafts, sports, literature, gastronomy, and culinary arts. The event will also host a four-day Trade and Investment Forum with leading African and international speakers, and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers, and component suppliers.
Special Days will highlight participating countries, public and private sector entities, tourism, cultural attractions, and a Global Africa Day celebrating ties with the African diaspora. Additional activities include business-to-business and business-to-government matchmaking, the AU Youth Start-Up program, the Africa Research and Innovation Hub, and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) to promote local trade and cultural exchanges. The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors year-round.
Planning for IATF 2025 is in full swing, with significant progress reported in ensuring seamless logistics and a successful event.
The theme of the Algeria IATF 2025 Business Roadshow was ‘Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialization and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA’. Distinguished attendees included H.E. Ms. Baleka Mbete, founder of NaLHISA and former Deputy President of South Africa; H.E. Zitouny El-Tayeb, Minister of Internal Trade; H.E. Selma Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of African Affairs; H.E. Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment and Acting Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals; and Mr. Jean Louis-EKRA, former President of Afreximbank and Deputy Chair of the Intra-African Trade Fair Advisory Council.
ABJ/APA