Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
ZIMBABWE’S successful bid to host the headquarters of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair Company is set to significantly bolster the country’s economic prospects, positioning it as a strategic hub for continental trade and investment, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi has said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), VP Mohadi described the development as a major milestone that goes beyond diplomatic prestige, unlocking tangible economic opportunities aligned with Africa’s integration agenda.
Zimbabwe secured the right to host the IATF Company headquarters during Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers, beating strong competition from several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa.
The decision, organisers said, is part of efforts to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the trade fair while deepening its alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a flagship initiative aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services.
VP Mohadi said hosting the IATF Company places Zimbabwe at the heart of intra-African commerce.
“Hosting the Intra-Africa Trade Fair Company under the auspices of the African union presents Zimbabwe with a strategically valuable opportunity to accelerate its economic and commercial agenda,” he said.
“Firstly, it enhances Zimbabwe’s positioning as a regional trade and investment hub. Alignment with initiatives such as the AfCFTA places the country at the centre of intra-African commerce, facilitating stronger trade linkages and improved market access for local enterprises.”
The IATF, co-convened biennially by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, has grown into one of the continent’s premier trade and investment platforms.
The latest edition in Algiers was attended by more than 112 000 visitors from 132 countries and featured over 2 000 exhibitors.
