
Attend Intra-African Trade Fair
By Abdi Ali
Published April 16, 2021
An event that is touted as being crucial in providing the platform that allows trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is set for December 8 – 14, 2021.
The second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021), that was to have been held September 6 – 12, 2021 but had to be postponed to later in the year ‘to allow for a broader roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines across the continent and ensure that the event is held under the most optimal health conditions’, shall take place in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
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Announcing the December date after the extraordinary meeting of the IATF2021 Advisory Council on March 18, the organisers said the new date will enable them to ‘take stock of all the latest safety precautions, allow for wider roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and to put in place effective COVID-19 safety and prevention protocols’.
“Our intent is that all participants garner the full benefits of the abundant networking, trade and investment opportunities that will arise at IATF2021,” Olusegun Obasanjo, IATF2021 Advisory Council Chairman and former President of Nigeria, said. “The extra time given to preparatory activities and effective roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines will give confidence to participating governments, exhibitors, buyers, conference delegates and other visitors. IATF2021 will bring together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services, and explore business and investment opportunities enabled by the single market created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to accelerate Africa’s integration and industrialisation agenda.”
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The organisers say the biennial trade fair will ‘enable stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and African economic integration’ besides ‘establishing a business-to-business and a business-to-government exchange platform for business deals and advisory services’.
IATF2021, the organisers say, ‘will also focus on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programs. A Conference will run alongside the exhibition and will feature high-profile speakers and panelists addressing topical issues relating to trade, trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, trade-enabling infrastructure, trade standards, industrialization, regional value chains and investment’.
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Delegates and exhibitors are invited to register for IATF2021 on intrafricantradefair.com or contact asall@afreximbank.com for details.
IATF2021 is Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and hosted by the Government of Rwanda.