The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) will lead a business delegation of 30 companies to the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria.
The IATF promotes intra-African trade by connecting businesses, investors and policymakers from across the continent and the diaspora.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, said the event, which runs from September 4-10, offers South Africa an opportunity to showcase its goods and services, attract investment, foster regional integration and advance the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Participating in international exhibitions like these is critical to the DTIC's mandate and the objectives of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024-2029 to grow the economy, create jobs, industrialisation, localisation, inclusive growth and growing the domestic market and exports,” said Godlimpi.
He said the host country held strategic importance as Africa’s third-largest economy. “It is of importance that we establish direct trade routes to improve trade between the two countries.”
While South Africa currently enjoys a trade surplus under the AfCFTA, Godlimpi said preferential trade with Algeria remained limited. He said both countries needed to step up efforts to encourage and support preferential trade under the AfCFTA to fully utilise new market access opportunities.
“The trade fair will also foster small and medium enterprise cross-border partnerships, enabling regional value chain integration, and diversifying exports against the backdrop of volatilities in traditional markets.”
The IATF will focus on sectors such as agriculture, automotive, mining, information and communications technology (ICT) and energy. Alongside the exhibition, the programme will feature trade and investment forums as well as industry conferences.
Following previous editions in Cairo (2018 and 2023) and Durban (2021), the IATF 2025 is expected to attract about 35 000 attendees and 1 600 exhibitors. – SAnews.gov.za
