By Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L. H. D, (Hon.) & Latifa Ferial Naili Latifa – Updated at 1614 EAT on 04th Sep 2025

ALGIERS- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has  a few hours ago (Thursday today) presided over the opening of the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Centre in Algiers.

The ceremony  has taken place in the presence of heads of state, delegation leaders, senior officials, and members of the government. The first day of the fair features “Algeria Day,” organized by the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI), with sessions showcasing reforms, investment opportunities, and Algeria’s role in regional and global value chains.

Last month the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 welcomed Arise IIP as Official Premier Partner for the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025).

The Africa’s premier trade and investment forum was delighted to announce Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP), a pan-African infrastructure and industrial developer that designs and operates large-scale industrial ecosystems across Africa, as an official Premier Partner.

IATF2025, organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, and hosted by the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Running from September 4 to 10 under the theme “A Gateway to New Opportunities,” IATF 2025 brings together delegations from 140 countries and over 2,000 companies, including nearly 200 Algerian firms. Some 35,000 professional visitors are expected, with trade and investment deals worth an estimated $44 billion set to be concluded.

This edition will feature a strong presence of production and service companies, alongside a dedicated investment and trade forum focused on advancing Africa’s economic integration.

Arise IIP, a joint venture between Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Equitane, and the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), a subsidiary of Afreximbank, identifies industrial gaps in African countries and designs tailor-made solutions to enable the sustainable and local transformation of raw materials, boost exports, and promote trade. Its mission is to accelerate industrialisation in Africa by creating industrial parks (IPs), and processing zones that are tailored to local needs and opportunities.

Arise IIP operates in multiple countries across Africa through the following flagship projects such as the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ) in Gabon, Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin, Plateforme Industrielle d’Adétikopé (PIA) in Togo, Bugesera Special Economic Zone (BSEZ) in Rwanda, Industrial Platform Remo Free Zone (IPRFZ) in Nigeria, among others.

Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank said: “We are pleased to welcome Arise IIP as a Premier Partner of IATF2025. Arise IIP and Afreximbank have established a collaborative strategic partnership over the past few years aimed at driving industrialisation and trade development across Africa. This partnership is built on shared goals of promoting intra-African trade, facilitating industrial growth, and strengthening Africa’s position in global value chains.”

Mr Amit Agrawal, Chief Operating Officer, Arise IIP: “We are honoured to once again partner with the Intra-African Trade Fair. IATF provides a unique and powerful platform for connecting key stakeholders committed to advancing Africa’s industrialisation and economic integration. Our participation in IATF2023 allowed us to spotlight the immense potential of local manufacturing through our Country Day, and we look forward to building on that momentum. At Arise IIP, we believe that intra-African trade is essential to unlocking the continent’s full industrial potential. IATF2025 offers an unparalleled opportunity to forge new partnerships, attract investments, and accelerate the development of sustainable, inclusive industrial ecosystems across Africa.”

The biennial event aims to increase intra-African trade and showcase the investment opportunities across this region and the continent.

To participate in IATF2025, please visit http://www.intrafricantradefair.com.

About ARISE IIP
ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) is a pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial parks. ARISE IIP identifies opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains across Africa, designs, finances, builds and operates the necessary infrastructure, playing a catalytic role in supporting countries in their transition to an industrial economy. Driven by the pursuit of green growth, ARISE IIP’s ambition is to support the development of the continent’s industrial potential while offsetting its carbon emissions and climate impact.

About the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF)
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities on the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries who bring investment goods as well as those interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.