Latest news with #industrialisation
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Industrialisation-led growth necessary for Nigeria's economic resurgence — NESG
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has invited stakeholders to chart a bold, new course for Nigeria's industrialisation and economic future, as the country gears up for the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31). The spotlight will focus on a critical lever for economic transformation: Driving Industrialisation-led Growth. The NESG said this sub-theme, central to this year's discourse, reinforces the urgent need to revitalise Nigeria's industrial base as a pathway to sustainable development, job creation, export competitiveness, and inclusive prosperity. According to the NESG, with the Summit scheduled to hold from October 6–7, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria's path to prosperity hinges on its ability to transition from a consumption-driven to a production-based economy. It added that despite its large population and abundant natural resources, Nigeria has struggled with deindustrialisation, overdependence on imports, and limited value addition in key sectors. 'Industrialisation offers a strategic solution to these challenges by unlocking the country's manufacturing potential, enhancing productivity, and strengthening linkages across agriculture, extractives, and services,' the NESG stated. It pointed out that through this sub-theme, NES #31 will convene industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, development partners, and entrepreneurs to examine how Nigeria can build globally competitive industries anchored in innovation, local content development, and enabling infrastructure. 'It will also explore how industrial policy can be better aligned with market realities, technological trends, and Nigeria's demographic advantage,' it further noted. Under the sub-theme, the NESG said the focus areas will cover 'The discussions under Driving Industrialisation-led Growth will centre on: Revamping Industrial Policy: Reviewing and modernising Nigeria's industrial strategies to reflect contemporary global and regional trends, including the AfCFTA and digital transformation. SME Competitiveness: Supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as engines of innovation, job creation, and industrial diversification. Value Chain Development: Promoting backwards and forward integration, especially in agribusiness, mining, and pharmaceuticals, to maximise local content and export potential. Technology and Innovation: Leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to scale productivity and competitiveness in manufacturing. Access to Finance: Catalysing private sector investment and innovative financing mechanisms to unlock capital for industrial growth'. Delving into the pillars for progress: Reforms, Resilience, Results, the NESG highlighted: 'Guided by the NES #31 strategic pillars—Reforms, Resilience, and Results—this sub-theme will stress the importance of reforming Nigeria's regulatory and infrastructure landscape to enable industrial take-off. From streamlined business processes and improved power supply to trade facilitation and skills development, Nigeria must build resilient systems that deliver tangible results. Industrialisation is not just about factories—it is about creating a national ecosystem of productivity, where skilled labour, reliable infrastructure, access to finance, and supportive policies work together to generate wealth and economic opportunities for millions'. Calling for coordinated action, the NESG said, 'the journey to industrialisation requires more than rhetoric—it demands intentional collaboration across the public and private sectors. NES #31 presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to forge partnerships, commit to reform implementation, and co-create a future where Nigeria becomes the industrial powerhouse of West Africa. 'Through robust dialogue and shared accountability, the Summit will inspire actionable strategies that move Nigeria beyond resource dependence towards a diversified, innovation-led economy that works for all.' The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is Nigeria's leading private sector think tank and policy advocacy organisation; since 1993, it has promoted inclusive economic growth through evidence-based research, stakeholder engagement, and its flagship annual Nigerian Economic Summit—Nigeria's foremost platform for public-private dialogue.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Are African countries aware of their own mineral wealth?
Imagine running a business for over a century without knowing what's in your warehouse. That's essentially what many African countries are doing with their mineral wealth. Governments across the continent still have very little knowledge of what lies beneath their soil. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, European colonial powers exploited African mineral wealth for their industrialisation. Post-independence, many African nations nationalised their mining sectors. International pressure led to privatisation in the 1980s. This weakened the motivation and capacity of governments to develop long-term strategies. They have more incentive to export minerals for foreign exchange in the short term. As political economists, we have been researching the governance of Ghana's and Rwanda's minerals sectors for over a decade. We conducted research into why some African nations are investing more than others in geological investigations. These are studies that examine where minerals can be found and what their economic potential is. We focused on Ghana and Rwanda because of their different levels of commitment to investing in geological investigations. We found that intense political competition forces Ghanaian governments to have short-term priorities. This makes geological investigations (a long-term, risky venture) unappealing to ruling elites. In contrast, the Rwandan Patriotic Front government has invested in geological surveys over the last decade. Beyond economic and technical costs, context-specific political dynamics – interests, ideas and power relations – shape the decision to invest in geological mapping. A mixed searchGhana is rich in several minerals and is Africa's largest producer of gold, which is its highest export earner. Minerals generated US$11 billion in revenue in 2024. The country is also rich in diamonds, manganese and bauxite. It recently discovered lithium in commercial quantities. Lithium is a 'critical mineral' for the energy transition and this discovery will be of interest to investors. Rwanda is a producer of tin, tantalum and tungsten. It also has commercial deposits of gemstones, silica sands, kaolin, vermiculite, diatomite, clays, limestone and gold. Policy experts and international organisations often encourage governments to invest in geological mapping of their minerals. This is to enhance greater investment in the sector and boost the country's gains from its resources. But these investigations are costly and lucrative findings aren't guaranteed. Some African governments have limited commitment to investing in geological mapping. Others, such as Uganda, Morocco, Botswana and South Africa, have put resources into it. For example, the Ugandan government announced its intention to expand national geological mapping coverage from 50 to 100 percent. Ghana's lack of geological knowledgeThe roots of the knowledge gap stretch back to colonialism. European powers meticulously mapped African minerals, but kept the data for themselves. Today, the British Geological Survey holds over 300,000 geological reports and maps from other countries. Much of it is gathering dust in archives rather than helping African governments understand their own resources. Even basic geological knowledge often sits in London, Paris or Brussels rather than in Accra, Kigali or Nairobi. Take Ghana, which has been mining gold for over a century yet still lacks comprehensive geological surveys. We found that the country's competitive political system, where power alternates between two main parties almost every eight years, stands in the way of long-term planning. Successive Ghanaian governments have relied on private mining companies to conduct geological investigations. There is limited monitoring of whether investigations are carried out before extracting minerals. This approach has obvious flaws. Firstly, companies may not share all their findings. Secondly, the government doesn't have control over information about its own resources. We also found evidence of a darker political calculation. Through licensing, political elites are able to maintain lucrative relationships with mining companies. Comprehensive geological mapping might force more transparent, competitive bidding processes that could disrupt these arrangements. This includes vested political interests extending into the small scale and artisanal mining space. Rwanda's different pathRwanda tells a different story. Since 1994, the governing Rwandan Patriotic Front has increasingly taken control of all aspects of the society. As part of this drive it has developed longer-term ambitions in relation to its development strategies. The country has chosen to know more about what lies beneath its land and has taken steps to improve its capabilities. Firstly, it revised its mining law. The Rwandan government had initially invited foreign mining companies to obtain permits on a first come, first served basis. Though permit holders were required to invest in geological investigations before extraction, there was limited monitoring of what firms were doing. This is similar to what was taking place in Ghana. Secondly, the Rwandan government even established its own mining company, Ngali Mining, to invest directly in exploration. Thirdly, it has attracted investment in geological surveys, with some support from donors. In this way, it directly employs geological investigation firms rather than relying on mining firms to invest in investigations themselves. The results are impressive: between 2012 and 2016, the government attracted four different sets of North American and European firms to conduct extensive mapping studies. Fourth, as a result of these surveys, the government re-categorised existing mining areas into 52 separate areas for mineral exploration. As a result, the Rwandan government now attracts investment to these areas because there is more understanding of which minerals exist there. It's important to note that Rwanda imports many of its minerals from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and then re-exports them. Importing and re-exporting DRC minerals earns Rwanda immediate foreign exchange earnings. This is particularly evident in rising Rwandan gold exports in recent years. Thus, even where governments may be keen to invest in geological investigations, when other short-term priorities exist it is less easy to sustain long-horizon goals in domestic mining sectors. Breaking the knowledge barrierThe global demand for minerals is soaring. This has made developing comprehensive knowledge of underground resources more urgent for African countries. However, our research suggests that simply throwing more money at geological surveys won't reorganise domestic minerals sectors if political incentives favour short-term interests. Understanding the political dynamics is the first step towards unlocking Africa's mineral potential. Only by learning more about the power structures that shape these decisions can countries begin to map their way to more sustainable mineral wealth. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
My behind-the-scenes tour of art deco Paris
It was a time of change, of modernity and industrialisation, of rejection of the old tropes, and it pervaded all areas of art and design, from architecture to music, dance and fashion. I am talking, of course, about art deco. The movement caused a stir. Take the premiere of Stravinsky's ballet The Rite of Spring in the inaugural season of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, which prompted a near riot in 1913. Or Josephine Baker performing in little more than a banana belt at the Folies Bergère in 1926. Le tout Paris was both scandalised and delighted. As 2025 marks the centenary of the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, from which the term art deco is derived, I am here to celebrate. And the Prince de Galles — refurbished in period style by Pierre-Yves Rochon in 2013 — is the ideal base. From the moment I step into the 159-room hotel, in the 8th arrondissement near the Arc de Triomphe, I am transported back to those heady years that began in the Paris of the 1910s and flourished over the next two decades. Legend has it that the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII, was staying at Le Meurice, on the Rue de Rivoli, and declared that Paris needed a more modern hotel. The Prince de Galles, which opened in 1929 and was named in his honour, was the response of the architect André Arfvidson. A paean to the art deco aesthetic, its exquisite colonnaded courtyard of intricate mosaics is now a listed monument. Inside it's all clean lines, wrought iron balustrades, precious woods, geometric textiles and crystal sconces in the shape of the Prince of Wales's feathers. Guests staying in one of the hotel's eight Mosaic suites — black-and-gold mosaic bathrooms, polished macassar, lashings of black marble and lithographs from the period — are being offered a tour of the city by the 20th-century architectural historian Jacob Simpson. This three-hour tour offers rare, behind-the-scenes access to five seminal buildings and includes a quintessentially Parisian personal shopping experience at Printemps department store, with its sweeping 1924 staircase and luminous stained glass and iron dome. 'Art deco,' writes Andrew Ayers, the architecture journalist and author of the booklet accompanying the tour, 'is a loose term, which was not coined until 1966, to describe a style that was inspired by different sources, and was interpreted in different ways in the countries to which it spread.' Its rejection of the flounces of art nouveau in favour of purity of line, volume and geometric forms would never be as radical as Le Corbusier's modernism. And although art deco moved away from 19th-century historicism, in Paris it never entirely shook off the classical teachings of the École des Beaux-Arts. Key to this new style was the invention of reinforced concrete, which was both faster and more economical than working with stone. Plus it permitted new forms of construction, exemplified by the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, commissioned by the impresario Gabriel Astruc (who invited Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes for that infamous Stravinsky premiere). Completed in 1913, it was the first art deco building in Paris, and it is our first port of call, a short hop from our hotel in the chic 'golden triangle'. Despite having been to numerous performances, I had never fully appreciated the building's revolutionary structure. It was the first theatre to offer unobstructed views of the stage from all seats, due to the absence of any pillars in the circular auditorium — which also enabled the aristocratic audience to see and be seen. Designed by the 'poet of concrete' Auguste Perret, the columns in the foyer were unadorned and the whole interior housed within a complex concrete frame. As a swansong to tradition, however, the façade was clad in marble, with a bas-relief of the Muses by Antoine Bourdelle. Unsurprisingly, Charles Garnier, most famously the architect of the ornate Paris Opéra, hated it. He was not alone in considering the restrained façade ugly. Some 25 years later, with the Palais d'Iéna, Perret would create his apotheosis of naked concrete, taking the possibilities of this medium to an extreme, and setting himself the not inconsiderable challenge of rivalling the Parthenon. Originally commissioned as the Museum of Public Works, and now a government building, it is viewed by appointment, and is the unmissable last stop on my itinerary. 'Not a bag of plaster has entered here!' Perret boasted. 'Concrete is sufficient unto itself. Concrete is stone we manufacture; more noble and beautiful than natural wood. It must be given the honour of being awakened.' We see the raw exterior, the concrete hammered and textured to imitate fluted stone columns, its aggregate of green porphyry, pink marble, and flint hinting at mosaic. Inside, a 60m by 18m Hypostyle Hall, with 18 truncated-cone columns supporting the coffered ceiling 7m above, served as the exhibition area. The imposing rotunda houses an amphitheatre — now the councillors' auditorium — crowned by a glass and concrete-ribbed dome with a flame-shaped chandelier. A fresco by Jean Souverbie and three 1940s Gobelins tapestries add warmth to the austere grey walls. For me, the climactic feature is the double horseshoe floating staircase, a mesh of triangular concrete and glass, behind it, filtering a geometric pattern of light onto the steps — Perret's contemporary take on the grand staircase of the Paris Opéra. Between Perret's two masterworks, Simpson accompanies us to the Palais de Tokyo, opposite the Eiffel Tower. Built for the 1937 Exposition Internationale (the last of its kind to be held in Paris), this architectural showpiece sits above a series of grand terraces that cascade down to the Seine, making it a popular spot for skateboarders. Its massive verticals and Alfred Janniot's stylised reliefs of the Legends of the Earth and Sea framing the façade remind me of both fascist and Stalinist heroic architecture of the period. But inside, we see a different aspect of art deco. The Musée d'Art Moderne, in the east wing, dedicates a whole gallery to the spectacular furniture and objects of the period, by such luminaries as Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Jean Dunand. And here, in contrast to concrete and restraint, is the use of luxurious organic materials and masterful craftsmanship. I can see myself working at the exquisite angular desk and bucket chair in exotic woods and python skin by Michel Dufet. Later, in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, home to the largest collection of art deco in the world, we discover not only objets d'art, glassware, textiles and tableware, but entire suites of rooms, including those designed in the 1920s by Armand-Albert Rateau for the couturière Jeanne Lanvin featuring marble, bronze furniture, and silks in Lanvin bleu. It is in this museum, which owns several pieces from the 1925 exhibition, that the Expo's centenary will be celebrated from October 22 with the exhibition 1925-2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco. Back at the hotel, drinks await in the duplex Lalique suite, the most luxurious accommodation in the hotel and with panoramic views over the City of Light. A symphony in black and gold, it features custom-made period furniture, textiles and one-off crystal pieces by René Lalique's workshop that perfectly reflect the ethos of those golden Levonian Cole was a guest of Marriott, which has the Unlocking Art Deco package at £2,088pp, including one night's B&B in a Mosaic suite, a three-hour expert guided tour of five art deco venues and a personal shopping experience ( Take the train to Paris By Agnès Poirier In August Paris feels almost deserted, inhabited by only a few special breeds: true Paris lovers, eccentrics and poets. And, of course, by all those who have learnt to enjoy all that Paris has to offer in summer for free, from swimming in the Seine to playing pétanque and having a nap on a deckchair along the riverbanks and on the pop-up beaches — not to mention at the open-air cinema at Parc de la Villette. So why not join them? This wonderful hotel in South Pigalle, in the 18th arrondissement, is a well-kept secret, but it won't remain so for long. With 16 rooms, some of them duplex suites, and reasonably priced, the Elysée Montmartre transports you to a world of complete zen in the heart of belle époque Paris still known today for its colourful nightlife. With a hint of Japanese-style wabi-sabi (the art of imperfect beauty), the interior design is mostly made of eucalyptus wood and stone, and the result is spectacularly refined. Next door is the Elysée Montmartre concert venue, a favourite of Toulouse-Lautrec and, more recently, of David Bowie, Björk and Daft Punk (room-only doubles from £156; Place Dauphine is a triangular square dating from the beginning of the 17th century, at the western tip of Île de la Cité, near Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. In this quiet and leafy refuge, Restaurant Paul is a favourite with locals in all seasons, its terrace giving onto Place Dauphine and the quai overlooking the Left Bank. This discreet Parisian institution has the added quality of remaining open throughout August. Visitors will find traditional bistro fare, from snails to foie gras and beef tartare, with a few vegetarian options (mains from £21; The small café next door, with the same owners, is ideal for early coffee or cocktails at dusk. The Musée Montmartre on Rue Cortot is one of the most picturesque small museums of Paris. With regular exhibitions on lesser-known figures of the impressionist and post-impressionist era, it harks back to the old village of Montmartre, with its large gardens overlooking Paris's vineyards, the studio of the painter Suzanne Valadon and a small pavilion turned into a bucolic café. Until September 14 the exhibition area is dedicated to Maximilien Luce, an anarchist turned pointillist who painted Parisian daily life between 1887 and 1900. It is the first Luce retrospective since 1983 and is well worth the detour (£19; The Jardin d'Acclimatation near the Fondation Vuitton in the west of the city has been welcoming families for more than 160 years. Restored to its former imperial glory in 2018, it has kept its historical merry-go-rounds alongside newer ones and 40 other attractions. While wild animals are no longer roaming freely, peacocks can still be seen parading on the lawns. Spread over 44 acres, the Jardin offers events for children and many cafés for exhausted parents. Don't miss the little train, winding through the gardens on a ride of wonder (£6;
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bonatech, a leading Chinese membrane materials company, announces completion of Series A financing
JINAN, China, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bonatech, a company specialising in the application of membrane technology for the research and development of membrane materials and the manufacturing of membrane equipment, has announced the completion of its Series A financing. This is a reflection of investors' confidence in Bonatech's ability in the field of membrane materials, enabling the high-quality development of the biomanufacturing industry and providing customers with full-process product delivery from laboratory to industrialisation. Bonatech Partners have stated the following: "For over 13 years, we have built a dynamic and innovative platform to support global partners and bring more outstanding membrane filtration process technology to market. We are delighted to announce that we have entered into a strategic partnership with Jinan High-tech Finance and Shandong Luxin Venture Capital. Jinan High-tech Finance and Luxin Venture Capital have a long-term vision, a strong culture and an excellent track record in the investment field. They are ideal choices to support Bonatech's continued expansion." The founder of Bonatech stated: Bonatech Technology is a specialist in the field of membrane material research and development, with a focus on the manufacturing of membrane equipment and the application of membrane technology. The company has mastered the development methods of advanced inorganic membrane materials and high-performance composite membrane materials, and has built a membrane industry chain covering "membrane elements-membrane assemblies-membrane equipment-membrane applications". This product is used in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, synthetic biology, food and beverage, and more. The company is a leading domestic technology innovation enterprise, integrating advanced membrane material research and development with membrane technology applications. We are confident that Bonatech will become a leading supplier of system solutions in the field of global separation and purification in the near future. About Bonatech Bonatech is headquartered in Jinan, Shandong, China. The company specialises in the research, development and production of membrane materials. The product range includes ceramic, spiral organic, hollow fibre, electrodialysis and pervaporation membranes, as well as other membrane components. The company is currently developing and applying membrane separation technology, with a particular focus on membrane applications for separation and purification in cutting-edge technology industries such as biomedicine, synthetic biology, new energy, and semiconductors. The company has gradually evolved from a professional complete equipment provider in the field of membrane technology applications to the material field of membrane component development. It has developed into a group enterprise that now covers the entire membrane industry chain, including "membrane components, membrane components, membrane equipment, membrane applications". Following over 4,000 case process verifications on a global scale, it is considered trustworthy. For more information, visit or contact us at info@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigerian business leverage African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to grow the country's intra-African trade opportunities
Nigeria is working towards fast-tracking implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock opportunities for businesses in the country across the continent. Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Jumoke Oduwole noted that intra-African trade has been improving. 'Intra African trade exports grew by over 13% from last year supported by new trade corridors and the initial success of AfCFTA's guideline initiatives. Nigerian businesses are already key participants, exporting, ceramics, garments, pharmaceuticals and agro products across the continent,' Hon. Jumoke said in a keynote address to government officials, the Nigerian trade community, business leaders and investors attending the Nigeria IATF2025 Business Roadshow. 'As we talk about expanding and unlocking new trade markets, we must recognize the creative economy as a serious trade frontier. Platforms such as Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) led by Afreximbank are proving that African culture is bankable not just beautiful.' She added. The event that was attended by over 700 people focused on promoting intra-African trade under the theme: ' Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa's Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness through AfCFTA.' The Nigeria IATF2025 roadshow is one of the five in a series of five high-level events in key cities including Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, and Algiers ahead of the fourth edition of the biennial Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) that will be held in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025 under the theme 'Gateway to New Opportunities'. IATF is Africa's premier trade and investment event that serves as a crucial platform for fostering economic growth, collaboration, and innovation across the continent. Addressing the forum, Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni noted that IATF offers an unparalleled platform for the exchange of trade and investment information and is Africa's marketplace of ideas, opportunities, and partnerships. 'With frameworks like AFCFTA and platforms like IATF we now have the tools to bridge the trade gap, boost Intra African trade and tremendously grow our economies in a sustainable and inclusive way. We need to build structured, sustainable and competitive value chains that can power inclusive growth both here in Nigeria and across the continent in Africa. We know that AfCFTA promises to be the largest single market in the world, connecting 1.3 billion people across 54 countries in Africa," Ms Ayeni said. Building on this, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, Mrs. Kanayo Awani highlighted the tangible results borne out of the trade fair across the continent and in Nigeria specifically. 'In just three editions, IATF has achieved what once felt aspirational: over $100 billion in trade and investment deals, more than 70,000 participants, and 4,500+ exhibitors from across 130 countries. This is not just a conference, it is Africa's trade engine, designed to connect our producers, unlock demand, and operationalise the promise of the AfCFTA. And in every edition—whether in Cairo, Durban, or beyond, Nigeria has not just participated. Nigeria has led. At IATF2023 alone, Nigerian enterprises generated over $11 billion in signed deals, the highest of any country,' Mrs Awani added. IATF is a platform for boosting trade and investment in Africa. The last edition held in Cairo attracted nearly 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries and generated US$43.7 billion in trade and investment deals. Some of the activities lined up for the week-long IATF2025 include a trade exhibition by countries and businesses; the CANEX programme with a dedicated exhibition and summit on fashion, music, film, arts and craft, sports, literature, gastronomy and culinary arts; a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring leading African and international speakers; and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers. Special Days will also be held at IATF2025, dedicated for countries as well as public and private entities to showcase trade and investment opportunities, and tourism and cultural attractions, as well as Global Africa Day to highlight commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora, featuring a Diaspora Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase. Also planned is a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges; the AU Youth Start-Up programme showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes; the Africa Research and Innovation Hub @ IATF targeting university students, academia and national researchers to exhibit their innovations and research projects; the Trade Exhibition offering large corporations and SME's the opportunities to showcase their goods and services, the Trade and Investment Forum, a four day conference featuring sessions and training discussing trade opportunities and barriers. Others include the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), a showcase of African and Diaspora creative talent, the Special Days segment offering countries, private and public sectors the opportunity to sponsor their special event on specific days, the Africa Automotive show, a platform for auto manufacturers to exhibit their products and interact with potential buyers, IATF Virtual, an interactive online platform that will continue after the live event is over, Diaspora Day highlighting the commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) to promote trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges at the local level. The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors throughout the year. To participate in IATF2025 please visit Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. About the Intra-African Trade Fair: Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent's transformation through industrialisation and export development.
