Rwanda was selected on Monday, December 17, 2018, during the official closing ceremony for the First IATF 2018.
Former President of Nigeria and Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo announced the city of Kigali, Rwanda as the next hosts of the IATF 2020.
Rwanda is selected to host this trade fair following President Kagame’s visit to Egypt on 8-9 December 2018, when he attended “Africa 2018 Forum”, which aimed at economic integration and increasing investment on the continent.
During his visit, president Kagame held discussions with Afreximbank President, Prof Benedict Okey Oramah, and supported the idea of launching this trade fair and emphasized Rwanda’s plan to host it.
Intra-African Trade Fair is the first of its kind in Africa, consisting of a 7-day trade fair that provides a platform for sharing trade, investment and market information and enabling buyers and sellers, investors and countries to meet, discuss and conclude business deals.
Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi, said they were pleased to welcome African fellows to the trade fair to be hosted by Rwanda.
Sheikh Saleh Habimana, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Egypt, said that after Rwanda was selected to host the fair, it has been requested to do everything possible to make it better than the one in Egypt.
“We have been requested to host it successfully, in such a good environment that we will not go below the square established by Egypt but do better,” he said.
Albert Muchanga, the AU Commissioner of Trade and Industry, told the participants that Rwanda is happy to host the trade fair because it already has an inclusive politics.
“In Rwanda, every person is offered a visa at the airport. That means many people are going to come, Africa’s products will also be a lot more because Africa’s free trade area will be in place,” he said.
In the trade fair, which started on December 11th, Rwanda was able to discuss and negotiate with Egyptian traders how to bring their industries to Rwanda, and others, their products.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyareya and the Director of Activities at RDB Emmanuel Hategeka who flanked the president exchanged with various entrepreneurs and encouraged them to invest in Rwanda’s market.
Chief Obasanjo encouraged Africans to change their culture of belief and to believe in Africa and what Africa can achieve, stating, there will be challenges, but while standing at a crossroads “we have identified the right road in order to grow African economies, actualize potential and fulfill our destiny.”
He said Africa must work together to swim together in progress, prosperity, and security.
“There is no pride in poverty; only strength, respect and pride in economic power and development,” he said.
He applauded the IATF as an invaluable event that has delivered what was expected; the establishment of relationships and networks that will drive Africa’s trade industry.
Intra-African trade is low at 15%, while the trade between Africa and Europe is at 59%, Africa and Asia at 51%, while the trade between Africa and North America is at 37%.
The common market will connect over 1.2 billion people in Africa, and 55 countries that have GDP worth US$2.5 trillion.
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