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Sierra Leone is making a strong impression at the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), which opened this week under the theme “Connecting African Markets.” The annual event, organized by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, serves as the continent’s premier platform for promoting intra-African trade and investment.
This year’s fair has attracted over 2,000 exhibitors and more than 35,000 participants, including heads of state, ministers, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. The event is projected to generate upwards of USD 44 billion in trade and investment deals across sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, services, and digital technologies.
Leading Sierra Leone’s delegation is the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, accompanied by senior government officials, private sector representatives, exporters, and emerging entrepreneurs. Their presence underscores the country’s commitment to regional integration, trade expansion, and economic transformation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sierra Leone’s national pavilion showcases a wide array of local products, services, and investment opportunities. Delegates are actively engaging in high-level business forums, panel discussions, and matchmaking sessions designed to boost export potential and attract foreign direct investment.
The country’s participation has been facilitated through collaboration with Afreximbank, Oakwood Green Africa, and key national institutions including the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce and the National Investment Board (NIB). These partnerships reflect a coordinated effort to position Sierra Leone as a rising hub for trade and investment in West Africa.
Minister Sesay expressed optimism about the outcomes of the fair, noting that it provides a strategic platform for forging meaningful business linkages and enhancing trade cooperation across the continent. “We are focused on creating opportunities that translate into tangible benefits for Sierra Leone and contribute to Africa’s broader economic growth,” he said.
As IATF 2025 continues, Sierra Leone remains committed to leveraging the event to attract investment, strengthen regional trade networks, and advance its agenda for economic transformation.
