Zimbabwe to host major Africa trade fair from 2029

Zimbabwe has been officially named the permanent host of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) beginning in 2029, marking a historic milestone that positions the country as a future hub of continental trade and investment.

The announcement was made recently in Cairo, Egypt, where organisers confirmed that Zimbabwe would become the fixed base for Africa's flagship trade and investment platform, which plays a central role in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

The decision, hailed as a "landmark development," comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to reassert itself as a gateway for regional commerce.

In addition, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced a US$2 billion Agricultural Export Facility aimed at strengthening Zimbabwe's food security and boosting its agricultural exports across Africa.

Afreximbank acting director for trade facilitation and IATF, Gainmore Zanamwe, confirmed the development, saying the decision followed a successful bid by Zimbabwe.

"Zimbabwe also won the bid to host the IATF entity permanently," Zanamwe said.

"After Nigeria, the event will be held in Zimbabwe in 2029.

This is a key initiative to formalise and institutionalise IATF in one place.

We are now working closely with the government of Zimbabwe to prepare for permanent hosting."

The IATF brings together thousands of businesses, investors, policymakers, and trade financiers from across the continent to explore partnerships, facilitate intra-African trade, and unlock investment opportunities.

Officials say establishing a permanent home for the fair in Zimbabwe will anchor the country as a strategic node in Africa's economic integration drive.

Alongside the hosting rights, the US$2 billion Agricultural Export Facility will support farmers and agribusinesses involved in food production, processing, and export, with the goal of transforming Zimbabwe into a major supplier of agricultural commodities within the continent.

"There is an export and food security initiative that we started, working with the Ministry of Agriculture in Zimbabwe," Zanamwe said.

"We are now at an advanced stage of identifying key farmers who can produce and export agricultural products to other African countries.

The US$2 billion facility is ready, and we invite all key players in production and processing to participate."

Economic analysts have described the move as a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe's strategic location, infrastructure potential, and growing role in regional trade diplomacy.

The IATF, first launched in 2018, is a flagship initiative of Afreximbank and the African Union, designed to accelerate intra-African trade and help realise the goals of the AfCFTA, which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across the continent.