Zimbabwe advances bid to host African Trade Fair headquarters

Zimbabwe is making progress towards establishing the permanent headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair Company (IATFCO), with Afreximbank expressing satisfaction with the government's preparations.

Afreximbank director of Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion Gainmore Zanamwe said this after a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira at the Munhumutapa Offices on Tuesday evening.

Zanamwe said the government was planning to provide more than 90 000 square metres of exhibition space to support the headquarters' operations.

"We are really pleased that the government is looking at putting in place more than 90 000 square metres of exhibition space, which befits the status of the headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair Company," he said.

He said Murwira had also outlined plans for Zimbabwe to participate prominently at the next Intra-African Trade Fair, scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 5 to 11, 2027.

Zimbabwe intends to use the event to showcase its trade, investment and industrialisation opportunities to potential investors and business partners from across Africa.

"The minister highlighted his plans for Zimbabwe to actually participate in a big way at IATF 2027 to showcase the trade and investment industrialisation opportunities that Zimbabwe has," Zanamwe said.

Afreximbank will continue working with the Zimbabwean government to establish the trade fair company's presence in the country and strengthen the event's role in promoting intra-African commerce and investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Harare won the bid to host IATFCO's permanent headquarters in September 2025, beating competing bids from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa.

IATF Advisory Council chairman and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo said Zimbabwe's conferencing facilities, air connectivity and accommodation capacity, together with land pledged for future expansion, had contributed to its selection.

The proposed headquarters is expected to strengthen Zimbabwe's position as a destination for continental trade and investment, while providing opportunities for local businesses to connect with markets and partners across Africa.