Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S successful bid to host the headquarters of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 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 South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.
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 position 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 to be 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. Organisers reported that the seven-day event facilitated trade and investment deals worth US$48,3 billion, underlining its significance as a driver of economic activity across Africa.
VP Mohadi said the presence of the IATF Company headquarters in Zimbabwe is expected to attract increased foreign direct investment by enhancing the country’s visibility among global investors.
“By hosting a platform that convenes continental and international investors, Zimbabwe gains recognition as a competitive investment destination, while local firms benefit from exposure to new markets, partnerships and regional value chains,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted the potential for wide-ranging economic spin-offs, particularly in sectors such as hospitality, logistics, financial services and construction, driven by increased business travel, events and infrastructure development.
“These developments will contribute to job creation and support the growth of small to medium enterprises, which are critical to the country’s economic transformation,” VP Mohadi said.
Beyond the immediate economic gains, he said the move strengthens Zimbabwe’s global and continental brand.
“It signals institutional credibility, political commitment to trade integration and readiness to support large-scale international initiatives — all key factors in building investor confidence,” he said.
VP Mohadi also underscored the knowledge and skills transfer that comes with hosting a continental institution.
“Engagement with diverse stakeholders enables the transfer of skills, technology, and best practices, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of domestic industries,” he said.
VP Mohadi described the development as a “high-impact economic lever” with the potential to drive sustained trade expansion, infrastructure development and long-term economic growth.
“Hosting the IATF Company is not merely a symbolic achievement; it is a high-impact economic lever that can drive trade expansion, investment inflows, infrastructure development, and long-term economic transformation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is set to host the fifth edition of the IATF in 2027, as momentum around intra-African trade continues to build under the AfCFTA framework.
Zimbabwe is now expected to move towards operationalising the continental headquarters, with stakeholders anticipating long-term benefits well ahead of the next trade fair cycle.
