The 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), set to take place from September 4 to 10 in Algiers, will unveil a new initiative aimed at advancing research and innovation in intra-African trade. The launch of the African Research and Innovation Centre was announced this week by key event organizers, including Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The centre is designed to stimulate academic research, foster innovation, and strengthen collaboration between African universities, industries, and policymakers. With a focus on accelerating industrialization and boosting intra-African trade, the initiative aims to help drive economic growth and integration across the continent.
Through this platform, researchers, students, and academics from Africa, the Caribbean, and the African diaspora will have the opportunity to showcase their work, from academic papers to innovative prototypes. The centre will serve as a vital space for cross-border exchange, offering participants a chance to contribute to the development of solutions that can enhance trade and economic cooperation within Africa.
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, highlighted the significance of the IATF 2025 event, calling it a key moment for research and innovation in Africa. “IATF 2025 brings together some of the brightest minds in Africa to promote the advancement of intra-African trade and industrialization,” Awani said in a statement.
The launch of this centre marks a pivotal step towards achieving the goals set out by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and further solidifies the role of the IATF in shaping the continent’s economic future.