Accra, Ghana//-10, 000 participants from more than 55 countries in African and other parts of the world are expected to attend the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 15 to 21 November 2021.
The fair according to the organisers would also attract 5,000 conference participants and over 1,100 exhibitors across the African continent and the rest of the world.
The IATF 2021 which is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat will provide a unique and valuable platform for businesses to access an integrated African Market of over 1.2billion people.
This integrated market also worth a Gross Domestic Product of over 2.5trillion dollars created under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the fair’s Ghana roadshow held in Accra ahead of the actual event in Durban, the Executive Vice President, Finance, Administration and Banking Services at Afreximbank, Denys Denya was emphatic that the trade fair would make AfCFTA a possibility.
The purpose of the Roadshow was to raise the awareness of the private sector about the substantial benefits of attending the second edition of IATF 2021.
IATF 2021 will be on the theme:” Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA.”
The upcoming trade fair would play a significant role in making intra-African trade a reality by providing a sustainable platform for buyers and sellers, investors and governments to connect and exchange trade investment information, he explained.
Mr Denya called on the business community to participate in the event and take advantage of showcasing their product and investment opportunities.
Afreximbank according to him had initiated a number of products like the Pan-African Payments and Settlement Systems which is being piloted, AfCFTA adjustment facility, African collaborative scheme and the trade fair, among others.
Mr Denya also revealed that the Bank had disbursed 1.7billion dollars to support Ghanaian companies over the years
He said Ghana had important industries to promote intra-regional trade and the participation and contributions of the private sector is vital in the implementation of AfCFTA.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Hebert Krapa, used the use to pledge government’s support and commitment to the upcoming fair in South Africa.
He assured the organizers of Ghana’s full participation in the fair, saying that it
would give the Ghanaian government the opportunity to improve in the participation of Intra-African Trade
Mr Denya reaffirmed that the government would continue to collaborate with the private sector to promote Intra-regional trade.
The African free trade area agreement when fully implemented would close the trading gap thereby accelerating the growth and development of the continent.
Instructively, IATF2021 provides a platform to promote trade under the AfCFTA. It will bring together continental and global buyers and sellers, and 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 the economic integration of the continent.
In addition to establishing business-to-business and business-to-government exchange platforms for business deals and advisory services, IATF2021 also operates IATF2021 Virtual, an interactive online platform that replicates the physical event. IATF2021 will also focus on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programmes.
African Eye Report
