Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Fair Surpasses $170 Billion in Deal Value

CAIRO

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced that its flagship event, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), has now facilitated over $170 billion in business commitments since its inception. The milestone was revealed by outgoing President Benedict Oramah during his farewell ceremony in Cairo.

Since the first edition, the IATF has attracted more than 180,000 participants from across the continent, becoming one of Africa’s most important platforms for governments, investors, and private-sector players to forge cross-border partnerships and drive trade integration.

Afreximbank’s Role in Africa’s Trade Integration

At the heart of Afreximbank’s strategy is the goal of expanding intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). To support this vision, the bank has committed a $1 billion adjustment fund to help member states adapt to tariff reductions and policy transitions associated with AfCFTA implementation.

Since 2015, Afreximbank’s total assets have grown from $6 billion to nearly $44 billion in 2025, which Mr. Oramah described as “a decade of strategic expansion and resilience.”

Growing Momentum in African Trade

Industry experts say the new figures highlight the growing momentum of intra-African trade, which has long lagged behind other regions. The IATF has helped showcase Africa’s industrial potential, connecting businesses in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and logistics.

During the 2023 edition of the trade fair in Cairo, about $43.8 billion in deals were recorded, according to Afreximbank’s official reports. While not all commitments translate into completed transactions, the cumulative value signals increasing confidence in Africa’s ability to trade within its borders.

Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

For economies such as Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, the IATF’s success presents both opportunity and challenge — the chance to deepen manufacturing capacity, reduce dependence on raw commodities, and integrate more effectively into regional value chains.

Analysts, however, caution that trade-fair commitments must be followed by sustained policy reform, infrastructure investment, and industrial growth to achieve tangible impact.

Leadership Transition and Future Outlook

As Afreximbank prepares for a leadership transition, with George Elombi succeeding Benedict Oramah as president, attention now turns to how the institution will sustain this momentum. The key test will be whether the IATF’s growing deal volumes translate into long-term trade growth and real industrialization across the continent.

Afreximbank’s record-breaking figures highlight a new era of confidence in Africa’s ability to trade with itself — a defining step toward realizing the full promise of the AfCFTA and building a more self-reliant, interconnected continent.