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The recruitment of a chief executive for the permanent secretariat of the Intra-African Trade Fair Company (IATFCO) in Harare is being finalised, with the successful candidate expected to assume duties shortly, the chairman of the company’s board has confirmed.
Responding to questions from this publication, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo said interviews for the chief executive position were conducted in March and that the appointment would be confirmed once all formalities were completed.
“The IATFCO is already registered and incorporated in Zimbabwe as of 1st December 2025, ” President Obasanjo said. “The Zimbabwean parliament recently passed the Act on IATFCO, and this shows that the Government is fully committed to hosting the headquarters. The Government has also graciously identified office space to serve as IATFCO headquarters, with operations expected to kick off soon as the CEO is appointed.”
The development marks the latest step in establishing a permanent institutional home for the biennial trade fair, which has been co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Of the US$28 million initial capitalisation approved by Afreximbank’s board to support IATFCO during its establishment phase, President Obasanjo confirmed that US$14, 28 million had already been deployed to operationalise the entity from the start of 2026.
“This is intended to ensure that the institution is set up on a sustainable and scalable footing, with appropriate governance, operational systems and staffing of key positions,” he said. Afreximbank is now inviting other entities to take equity in the company.
Asked whether the Harare headquarters would host a permanent, year-round African Pavilion allowing member states to showcase goods outside the biennial event cycle, President Obasanjo said a robust business plan was in place.
“We will start gradually with a few sectoral events which will take place throughout the year as IATFCO starts scaling its operational activities,” he said.
On coordination with Nigeria for the 2027 IATF in Lagos, President Obasanjo said the establishment of IATFCO as a permanent institution strengthened the governance framework and ensured structured coordination with host governments.
Regarding duty-free movement of exhibition samples year-round, he noted that Zimbabwe had already committed to waive customs duties and taxation for products as part of its successful bid. “These waivers are part of the Host Country Agreement signed by the Government of Zimbabwe, Afreximbank and the African Union Commission,” he said.
President Obasanjo said the secretariat would begin with a lean structure and grow organically, with the incoming chief executive and board deciding staffing needs once the company was up and running.
Following a record 50 000 virtual participants at IATF 2025, the digital infrastructure deployed for the event would be transferred to IATFCO to ensure continuity. Afreximbank would continue to provide support through its digital ecosystem, including the IATF virtual platform, which allows buyers and sellers to connect throughout the year.
“Hosting the IATF also presents opportunities for Zimbabwe to invest in information technology, artificial intelligence and digital platforms,” President Obasanjo added.
Under the Host Country Agreement, which Parliament has now given the force of law through the IATFCO Entities Hosting Agreement Act of 2026, the Government is obliged to provide the IATFCO Entities with at least 600 000 square metres of land in a prime location for the development of its premises, within a 15-kilometre radius of Harare’s main airport and international hotels.
The agreement also grants the IATFCO Entities sweeping legal protections, including immunity from judicial proceedings within the scope of their official activities, inviolability of their premises and archives, and exemption from customs duties and taxation. No Government official or person exercising public authority may enter the IATFCO’s premises without the written consent of its chief executive, except in cases of natural or man-made disasters requiring urgent protective action.
Zimbabwe has further committed to waive import and customs duties for goods temporarily imported for exhibition at the trade fair, with a minimum threshold of US$30 000 per participant or exhibitor, and to ensure visa waivers or visa-on-arrival for all IATF participants, alongside dedicated infrastructure at ports of entry for quick passage.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru in previous comments said hosting the IATFCO headquarters reflected growing confidence in Zimbabwe’s capacity to support Africa’s trade integration agenda.
“Hosting IATFCO headquarters reflects increasing confidence in the country’s ability to support Africa’s trade integration agenda, and it places Zimbabwe closer to the centre of efforts aimed at promoting trade across the continent,” Mr Majuru said.
“The development will help strengthen Zimbabwe’s trade relations across the continent, attract investment and open more opportunities for local exporters. With the right policies and support for industry, hosting the IATFCO headquarters will also raise Zimbabwe’s profile as a destination for trade and business in Africa.”
Mr Majuru noted that Afreximbank would play a central role in the establishment and operations of the headquarters, providing financial backing, institutional support and strategic coordination for the initiative. He added that the institutionalisation of IATF into a permanent entity based in Harare would help strengthen Zimbabwe’s trade relations across the continent and unlock new export opportunities for local businesses.
Zimbabwe emerged as the winning bidder to host the headquarters during IATF2025 in Algeria, outclassing formal bids from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. The large-scale trade fairs are expected to be held annually in Zimbabwe until 2033, after which the country, as permanent headquarters host, will alternate with other African nations.
