South African Companies - Photo by centralnews.co.za
AU Showcases Youth Innovation and ‘Made in Africa’ Products from
African
Women
in Processing
as IATF2025 Concludes with $48.3 Billion in Trade Deals
The
fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), hosted in Algiers, Algeria, concluded on 10 September 2025 with resounding success, recording US$48.3
billion in trade and investment deals signed during the weeklong
continental exposition. The Fair, which ran from
4th–10th September, attracted more than 112,000 visitors (both physical
and virtual) from 132 countries, and welcomed 958 buyers. The
IATF 2025 was organised
by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
In
his address, the host, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and
other dignitaries, featured a high-level summit-style dialogue that
brought together 14 Heads of State and Government, 6 government
representatives, and 41 ministers and deputy ministers.
President
Tebboune welcomed delegates to Algeria, the host the 2025 IATF edition.
He underscored the importance of boosting intra-African
trade using the IATF as a catalytic tool. He lamented the low level of Africa’s
share in global trade which currently stands at less than 3%, despite
possessing 30% of the world’s natural resources. President Tebboune
urged member states to address the continent’s
infrastructure challenges, and to recognise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a game changer for the continent. He urged the African private sector and governments to invest inrail, fibre optic, rail and airlink, and reform the global financial
architecture. Held biennially, IATF provides a platform for African
and international businesses to showcase goods and services, exchange
knowledge, and explore trade and investment opportunities.
According to the IATF2025 Report Card
the event hosted 2,148 exhibitors and featured major activities,
including country and business trade exhibitions, a four-day Trade and
Investment Forum with leading African and international speakers, the
African Youth Start-up, Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme with its own exhibition dedicated to fashion, music, film, arts and
crafts, sports, literature, and gastronomy, as well as the Africa Automotive Show.
In
her remarks at the continental trade fair, the AU Deputy Chairperson, Selma Haddadi urged leaders to commit to raising intra-African trade,
which still accounts for only 15% of the continent’s total trade. She emphasised the need for reforms to international trade rules to create space for Africa’s
industrial policies, the harmonisation of regulations, standards, and
payment systems, deeper
regional integration, and stronger measures to empower women and youth
as central actors in driving trade and industrialisation. She also underscored
the fair's role in advancing innovation, value addition, and industrialization to move Africa beyond being merely a supplier of raw materials.
“Africa
cannot achieve its aspirations if we continue trading more with the
outside world than with ourselves. We must change the rules, harmonise
our systems, and create an enabling environment where women and young
people can thrive as the real engines of our continental market.” said
the AU Deputy Chairperson at the IATF
2025.
The AU Pavilion at the IATF Exibition
The African Union Pavilion at the IATF , themed “Made in Africa – A Mark of Origin, a Symbol of Dignity and Pride”, presented Africa’s
development agenda as set out in Agenda 2063. It highlighted flagship
projects and long-term priorities while also serving as a platform
for 63 youth-led start-ups and more than 40
African
Women involved in Processing. The Pavilion welcomed over 100,000
visitors during the week, becoming a vibrant hub for innovation
and entrepreneurship and underlining the creativity, resilience, and
business potential driving Africa’s trade and growth.
The Pavilion drew wide interest and was visited by high-level dignitaries and partners, including: Abdelmadjid Tebboune,
President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Ouadah Nour Eddine, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro Enterprises of Algeria,
The Minister of Trade and Export Promotion
Tayeb Zitouni
of Algeria, Kanayo
Awani, Executive Vice President and
Dr. Benedict Oramah,President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and IATF2025 Advisory Council Chair
Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa,
Daren Tang, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and
Dr. Amany Asfour, President, Africa Business Council (AfBC) , among others.
AU Youth-UP’s Highlights
The Pitch Competition at the AU Pavilion began with a practical workshop on “Crafting the Perfect Pitch” delivered
by the Google Hustle
Academy. This was followed by a high-energy contest where 12 youth-led
innovators and founderswent head-to-head, each delivering five-minute
pitches before a distinguished jury of experts from Afreximbank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Algeria Venture,
Google Hustle Academy, and UNDP Timbuktoo.
Three (3) outstanding entrepreneurs emerged as winners:
-
Adam (Quareeb, Algeria) – a tech start-up
specialising in embedded systems and AI, providing tailor-made solutions to meet client needs.
-
Sarah (Talktü, Nigeria) – an on-demand,
AI-powered speech platform transforming communication access.
-
Stephen (General Biotech, Cameroon) –
a biotech venture developing solar-powered neonatal incubators with AI monitoring to reduce Africa’s high neonatal mortality rates.
Following the competition, General Biotech signed an MoU with SPA Condor (Algeria) to produce and distribute solar-powered baby
incubators across Africa and beyond demonstrating how innovative youth-led solutions can be scaled to meet urgent health needs.
Another
key innovation highlight at IATF2025 was the Healthcare Hackathon,
organised by Afrilabs in partnership with Afreximbank. Two health-tech
founders from the AU Youth Startup Programme (AUYSP) teamed up and won
the grand prize of US$10,000. Their success illustrated the AUYSP’s
purpose to identify talented young founders, equip them with practical
coaching and networks, and position them to compete
and thrive on continental stages.
Speaking at the competition, Mrs. Ron Osman Omar, Director of
Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship & Tourism (IMET)
said, “This competition has spotlighted the creativity and problem-solving spirit of Africa’s
next generation of innovators. It has reinforced the central role that
youth-driven enterprises play in shaping the future of trade and
development across our continent.
Young entrepreneurs are the engine of Africa’s
future. At IMET, we are proud to support startups that turn bold ideas
into real solutions creating jobs, driving innovation, and building the Africa we want.”
The competition forms part of ongoing efforts to empower Africa’s youth in line with Agenda 2063, ensuring that innovation and enterprise
remain central to Africa’s transformation agenda.
Africa Women in Procession (AWIP) Highlights
The Africa
Women in Processing (AWIP) programme highlighted the dynamism of women
entrepreneurs across key growth sectors agro-processing, the
creative industry, fashion, and technology. AWIP activities showcased
how women-led enterprises are adding value to raw materials, shaping Africa’s cultural economy, and driving innovation in both traditional and emerging industries.
A
major feature was the training on compliance with Environmental,
Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements, which equipped participants
with
the skills to align with international standards and expand access to
regional and global markets. Through exhibitions, workshops, and
networking sessions, AWIP provided a powerful platform for women to
connect with buyers, investors, and policymakers, while
reaffirming their role as trailblazers in Africa’s industrialisation and trade transformation.
A key highlight was the launch of the joint AUC–AfCFTA Secretariat report, “The Impact of the IATF on Development and Trade
2018-2024,” presented
with the participation of Dr. Patrick Olomo, Ag Director of ETTIM. The report underscored IATF’s growing influence in shaping Africa’s trade and development landscape.
The three editions of IATF put together facilitated over 1,000 trade
and investment deals valued at a cumulative US$118 billion. As of
December 2024, US$41 billion of these deals have been disbursed and
executed, averaging US$13.67 billion in executed deals
per event. By connecting buyers and sellers, showcasing African
goods and services, and facilitating business-to-business (B2B) and
business-to-government (B2G) exchanges, the IATF has generated billions
in trade and investment deals, empowered SMEs and entrepreneurs,
supported industrialization, and spurred overall economic growth across
the continent.
An intergenerational
dialogue engaged young innovators, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders
in exploring how the AfCFTA, digital infrastructure,
and regional collaboration can unlock Africa’s innovation economy. The Pavilion also spotlighted the upcoming Africa Start-Up Conference, amplifying visibility for Africa’s
entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally,two technical sessions were
organized. One
on Quality Management System (QMS) Standards for the Automotive Sector
stressed the role of robust standards in boosting competitiveness,
ensuring safety, and driving growth across Africa’s auto industry. Another on the role of standards in research and innovation
management highlighted the need to include standards in all product development
to ensure their successful integration to global markets and to promote
structured public–private partnerships to turn research into market-ready solutions.
As Africa prepares for the next edition of IATF
2027 in Lagos Nigeria, the African Union will continue to use the platform to promote Agenda 2063, support youth and women entrepreneurs,
and drive forward the vision of a united, integrated, and prosperous Africa.
For further information, please contact:
Faith Adhiambo
| Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail
ochiengj@africanunion.org
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 foundation.png)
.png)
 Logo.jpg)
