Accra, Ghana – June 10, 2025
At the IATF2025 Ghana Business Engagement Session in Accra, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), made a compelling call to action: African businesses must seize the moment and take full advantage of the continent-wide trade opportunities offered by AfCFTA.
Speaking to a distinguished audience of government ministers, corporate leaders, trade association executives, and diplomats, Mene underscored the transformational journey since the first Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2018. “In 2018, there were no state parties to the AfCFTA. Today, 49 countries have ratified the agreement, committing to a single set of trade and investment rules for Africa,” he said.
The engagement session is part of a series of roadshows ahead of IATF2025, which will be held in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4–10. The upcoming fair is expected to host over 2,000 exhibitors, attract 35,000 visitors, and generate over $44 billion in trade and investment deals.
Mene emphasized the critical partnership between AfCFTA and Afreximbank, highlighting its role in transforming AfCFTA from a diplomatic agreement into a vibrant commercial reality. “Without Afreximbank, AfCFTA would remain a trade agreement that only lawyers appreciate, with no commercial trade taking place,” he noted. He credited the bank’s financing instruments, including trade finance, infrastructure support, and the Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS), for reducing transaction costs and enabling intra-Africa commerce.
The Secretary-General stressed that IATF is more than a trade exhibition. “It is a direct marketplace for SMEs, smallholder farmers, manufacturers, and young entrepreneurs to showcase their products and scale their reach across the continent,” he said. Mene noted that the IATF fosters inclusivity and aims to ensure intra-African trade truly benefits the millions of people who power Africa’s economy.
In addition to outlining current initiatives, Mene previewed future projects such as the AfCFTA Transit Guarantee Scheme and the Africa Trade Gateway Initiative, a digital platform designed to streamline customs processes, provide know-your-customer (KYC) information, and facilitate B2B connectivity among African SMEs.
He further acknowledged the pressing need to shift Africa’s trade patterns away from the historical model of exporting raw commodities and importing finished goods. “The goal is to foster manufacturing and value addition right here on the continent,” Mene stated, pointing to cocoa, automobiles, and critical minerals as target sectors.
Calling on Ghana’s private sector to engage actively, Mene encouraged participation in IATF2025, stating: “Whether you’re a large corporation or a youthful entrepreneur, this platform is your opportunity to access a market of 1.4 billion people.”
He concluded by affirming the momentum of AfCFTA: “We have moved from zero ratified parties to 49 in under seven years. With the tools now in place, from digital payments to trade finance and policy frameworks, Africa is ready to trade with itself and uplift its people through commerce.”
IATF2025, hosted by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, is positioned as Africa’s largest trade and investment event — offering a continental platform for businesses to form strategic partnerships, diversify markets, and drive industrialization through intra-African value chains.
