Algeria is stepping up efforts to boost its share of trade with other African countries through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with new strategies aimed at expanding regional trade and connectivity. Speaking at the Algeria IATF2025 Business Roadshow, Minister of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion, H.E. Prof. Kamal Rezig, said Algeria is working on major infrastructure projects like the Trans-Sahara Highway, the Zouerate Road linking Tindouf with Mauritania, and the Nigeria-Algeria gas pipeline to strengthen continental trade integration.
Prof. Rezig said the country is committed to improving the business climate by ensuring transparency, stable investment laws, simplifying procedures, and building human capital to adapt to global economic shifts. He also stressed Algeria’s plan to grow its exports within Africa, particularly under the AfCFTA framework, as part of a broader national goal to diversify beyond mineral fuels and oils, which currently account for 91.5% of its exports.
Algeria’s share in intra-African trade reached 2.2% in 2024, a slight rise from 1.9% in 2022, according to the African Trade Report 2025. The country’s main African export markets include Tunisia (70.7%), South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal, while its top import partners are Mauritania (38.8%), Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, and Uganda.
The IATF2025 Business Roadshow, organized by Afreximbank in partnership with the Government of Algeria, was held ahead of the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) scheduled for 4–10 September 2025 in Algiers. It is one of several roadshows held across Africa, including in Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Lagos, aimed at promoting trade across the continent.
H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and Chairman of the IATF2025 Advisory Council, described intra-African trade as a powerful tool for Africa’s economic emancipation and self-reliance. He said AfCFTA has created an opportunity to build the “Africa We Want” by accelerating industrialisation and job creation across the continent.
Past editions of IATF attracted over 70,000 participants, 4,500 exhibitors, and generated $100 billion in trade deals, showing strong demand for intra-African trade platforms. Algeria alone secured over $2 billion in trade and investment through previous IATF events.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade & Export Development at Afreximbank, noted that while poor infrastructure has been blamed for Africa’s low intra-trade, a bigger problem is lack of access to trade and market information. She said IATF was launched in 2018 not just as an exhibition, but as a marketplace for AfCFTA and a platform to bridge trade information gaps.
She encouraged Algerian businesses to seize the moment, saying Algeria—Africa’s largest country by land and fourth-largest economy—has what it takes to lead. The country’s key strengths in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, financial services, light manufacturing, ICT, and automotive assembly can drive cross-border trade if properly harnessed.
IATF2025 will feature a country and business trade exhibition, the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) for cultural and creative industries, the Africa Automotive Show, and a Trade and Investment Forum with African and global speakers. Special Days will showcase countries and sectors, with a Global Africa Day honouring ties with the African diaspora. Other activities include B2B and B2G matchmaking, AU Youth Start-Up Programme, Africa Innovation Hub, and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET).
With over 2,000 expected exhibitors and 35,000+ buyers and visitors from 140+ countries, IATF2025 is projected to generate more than $44 billion in trade and investment deals. Algeria is finalising logistics to ensure a successful hosting of the fair in Algiers.
Themed ‘Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA’, the Algeria IATF2025 Roadshow was also attended by high-level dignitaries including H.E. Ms. Baleka Mbete, former Deputy President of South Africa; H.E. Zitouny El-Tayeb, Minister of Internal Trade; H.E. Selma Mansouri, Secretary of State for African Affairs; H.E. Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner; and Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, former Afreximbank President.
