South Africa has dispatched a 30-company business delegation to the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algeria as part of its push to deepen trade and investment ties under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the delegation will participate in the week-long event from 4 to 10 September in the Algerian capital Algiers, joining over 1,600 exhibitors and 35,000 attendees from across the continent and diaspora.
Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi said the fair presents a strategic opportunity to showcase South African goods and services, attract investment and strengthen regional integration.
“Participating in international exhibitions like these is critical to the DTIC’s mandate and the objectives of the Medium Term Development Plan 2024-2029 to grow the economy, create jobs, industrialisation, localisation, inclusive growth and growing the domestic market and exports,” he said.
Godlimpi noted Algeria’s role as Africa’s third-largest economy and a key gateway to North African markets.
While South Africa maintains a trade surplus under AfCFTA, he noted that preferential trade with Algeria remains underutilised.
IATF 2025 will spotlight sectors such as agriculture, automotive, mining, information and communications technology, and energy.
In addition to the exhibition, the programme features trade forums and industry conferences aimed at fostering small and medium enterprise partnerships and integrating regional value chains.
The IATF, organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union and AfCFTA Secretariat, has previously been held in Cairo (2018 and 2023) and Durban (2021).
The 2025 edition in Algiers is expected to be the largest so far, reinforcing Africa’s commitment to economic integration and sustainable development.
JN/APA