Algiers: Chairing the opening ceremony of the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025) at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center (CIC), the President of the Republic said that “Africa represents the future” and that “Algeria will actively contribute to efforts to meet the development challenge of the continent.”
According to Algeria Press Service, the President expressed pride in hosting the fourth edition of the IATF, which he noted occurs in “a very sensitive and delicate global context, where events accelerate at an unprecedented pace.” The gathering is described as “much more than a mere economic event,” embodying a collective consciousness aimed at building an integrated and influential continent within the regional and international environment.
The President highlighted achievements such as the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union’s membership in the G20, and partnerships with major global economic organizations. However, he emphasized the need to address historical injustices and elevate Africa’s position in the global economy. He called for unified efforts among African countries to enhance their role in international economic decision-making and address marginalization.
The President pointed out that Africa’s shares in international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, are minimal, with voting rights and shares not exceeding 6.5% and 11% respectively. He also noted Africa’s limited share in global trade and investments, emphasizing the continent’s vast resources and emerging market potential.
Addressing infrastructure shortcomings, the President stressed that they should motivate rather than deter efforts to transform the continent’s reality into a development success story. He underscored Algeria’s initiatives, including the Trans-Saharan road, the Algeria-Nigeria gas pipeline, and the Trans-Saharan fiber optic project, among others, aimed at overcoming these challenges.
The President reiterated Algeria’s solidarity with African countries, highlighting contributions such as training 65,000 African executives and canceling $1.5 billion in debts for 14 African countries. He emphasized the importance of creating a favorable investment climate and transforming the AfCFTA into a genuine development tool.
Concluding his address, the President urged African leaders to make the trade fair a starting point for a strong, united, and prosperous Africa, underscoring Algeria’s commitment to the continent’s development through infrastructure and trade initiatives.