LCCI and Afreximbank Empower SMEs to Thrive at IATF2025

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), successfully supported Nigerian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Algeria.

The partnership provided Nigerian entrepreneurs with access to new markets, cross-border partnerships, and continental exposure, enabling them to showcase products, expand networks, and drive intra-African trade. By facilitating SME participation in Africa’s premier trade marketplace, the initiative strengthened the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses and promoted diversification, job creation, and value-chain development across the continent.

Yusuf Daya, Director of AU/AfCFTA and International Relations at Afreximbank, emphasized that the trade fair acts as a catalyst for regional economic growth, offering SMEs opportunities to scale operations beyond borders while supporting the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

IATF2025, attended by over 112,000 visitors from 132 countries and featuring 2,148 exhibitors, closed with $48.3 billion in trade and investment deals, highlighting the transformative impact of African collaboration. LCCI will continue to mobilize Nigerian businesses for future editions, including IATF2027 in Lagos, to further elevate the continent’s trade ecosystem.