The 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), currently underway in Algiers, Algeria, has been described as a significant opportunity for Zimbabwean businesses to collaborate, innovate and expand into new markets. Zimbabwe is represented by 25 firms at this year’s edition, facilitated by ZimTrade in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the trade fair runs from September 4 to 10, 2025. It is projected to generate over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals, reinforcing its status as one of the continent’s most important platforms for strengthening intra-African trade.
The biennial event has established itself as a hub for businesses, governments and investors to exchange information, showcase goods and services, and explore opportunities across sectors. It also serves as a forum to tackle challenges affecting trade integration and to develop solutions that can drive industrialisation and economic transformation under the AfCFTA framework.
ZimTrade chief executive officer, Allan Majuru, who was recently appointed as an IATF 2025 ambassador, highlighted the significance of Zimbabwe’s participation, describing the fair as a “rare opportunity for collaboration, innovation and expansion into new markets.” He stressed that regional trade is vital for Zimbabwe’s economic growth and emphasised the need for local firms to align their strengths with continental market demands.
“Zimbabwean companies have a chance to identify trends, gather critical market intelligence and position themselves to scale up across the continent,” Majuru said, adding that success in regional markets requires a clear understanding of both opportunities and challenges.
Zimbabwe’s delegation reflects the diversity of its economic base, with participants drawn from sectors such as agriculture, leather, fast-moving consumer goods, services and artisanal industries. ZimTrade believes this broad representation demonstrates the country’s competitiveness and its ambition to expand exports from US$4.5 billion in 2018 to US$14 billion by 2030, in line with the National Export Strategy.
Participation in IATF 2025 is also seen as a strategic step in strengthening Zimbabwe’s export base, attracting foreign investment, and boosting tourism. According to ZimTrade, the fair enables direct engagement with buyers and investors, creating opportunities to secure deals, establish partnerships and gain insights into evolving market dynamics.
Beyond trade and investment, the fair promotes dialogue and knowledge-sharing among African countries and international partners. By fostering connections and offering solutions to long-standing trade barriers, IATF continues to position itself as a cornerstone in the continent’s push toward deeper economic integration and sustainable growth.
