Government eyes record investment inflows and over 100,000 participants as Nigeria secures hosting rights for Africa’s biggest trade and investment event…..
The Federal Government has set an ambitious target of attracting more than $50 billion in trade and investment deals at the 2027 edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), which will be hosted in Lagos.
The projection was revealed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, during the signing of the official Hosting Agreement for IATF 2027 in Lagos on Monday. The agreement confirms Nigeria as the host of the fifth edition of the continental trade and investment gathering scheduled for November 2027.
According to the minister, the event is expected to surpass previous editions both in scale and economic impact, with over 100,000 participants anticipated to attend either physically or virtually.
“We’re expecting to host more than 100,000 physical and virtual participants, and we’re targeting over $50 billion worth of trade and investment deals from IATF 2027,” she said.
Oduwole noted that the trade fair has evolved into one of the continent’s most influential economic platforms, connecting African businesses with global markets while also strengthening ties with the Caribbean and the African diaspora.
She added that Nigeria intends to leverage the event to reinforce its position as a key economic hub on the continent during what she described as a new phase of African economic transformation.
The minister further explained that the trade fair plays a crucial role in advancing the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to establish a single integrated market for goods and services across Africa.
To ensure the successful hosting of the event, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) will coordinate preparations alongside key agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other public and private sector stakeholders.
The most recent edition of the trade fair, IATF 2025, was held in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to September 10, 2025. The event recorded trade and investment deals worth $48.3 billion.
It also attracted more than 112,000 visitors from 132 countries, with 958 buyers and 2,148 exhibitors participating in the week-long programme.
Algeria, the host country, accounted for $11.4 billion of the deals signed during the fair, representing about 23.6 percent of the total value recorded.
The event featured a wide range of activities including trade exhibitions, a four-day trade and investment forum, and the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, which showcased sectors such as fashion, music, film, and the creative arts.
Other highlights included the Africa Automotive Show, as well as structured business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) matchmaking sessions designed to foster partnerships and unlock new investment opportunities across the continent.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, George Elombi, said the Intra-African Trade Fair has consistently demonstrated its ability to drive economic collaboration across Africa.
According to him, the first four editions of the fair collectively generated an average of about $40 billion in trade and investment deals, underscoring its growing influence as a platform for African commerce.
Elombi expressed optimism that the Lagos edition in 2027 could exceed the $50 billion target, noting that the event has the potential to deepen regional trade relationships, stimulate innovation, and strengthen Africa’s global economic profile.
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