Harare Secures IATF Headquarters in Landmark Continental Trade Win

IATF 2025 Graphic (Image Source)

Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe has scored one of its biggest international trade victories in decades after Harare was chosen as the permanent headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), a flagship initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union Commission (AUC), and the AfCFTA Secretariat. The announcement was made in Algiers, Algeria, during the IATF 2025, where Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah confirmed that Harare’s bid had been approved by the Advisory Council.

“This decision reflects Zimbabwe’s commitment to continental integration,” Oramah said. “Harare is not only the new host city—it will now be the heart of a new, independent IATF entity.”

Harare’s victory was no accident. The capital already hosts Afreximbank’s regional office for Southern Africa and is constructing the Africa Trade Centre, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. This infrastructure, combined with the city’s geographic location as a gateway to Southern Africa, gave it a competitive edge over rival bidders. Afreximbank has pledged US$28 million in seed funding to operationalize the new headquarters, urging African governments and corporations to support the institution in its formative years.

“This is a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe’s capacity to lead Africa’s trade transformation,” said Dr. Gift Mugano, a Zimbabwean trade economist. “The IATF headquarters will position Harare as a continental hub for deal-making, investment, and policy dialogue.”

Launched in 2018, the IATF is Africa’s largest trade platform, designed to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) exchanges, share market intelligence across sectors, and accelerate intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The 2023 edition in Cairo generated US$43.8 billion in deals, while the 2025 fair is projected to surpass US$44 billion. For Zimbabwe, hosting the IATF headquarters is a diplomatic and economic breakthrough. It comes at a time when the country is seeking to shed decades of isolation and re-integrate into global markets.

“This win boosts Zimbabwe’s brand as a trade-friendly destination,” said Dr. Persistence Gwanyanya, a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Monetary Policy Committee member. “It strengthens our case as a central player in AfCFTA’s success.”

The presence of the IATF HQ is expected to spur demand for real estate, logistics, banking services, and tourism in Harare, creating new jobs and boosting investor confidence. For Africa, the decision is equally historic. By situating the headquarters in Zimbabwe, the IATF gains visibility in a country that embodies both the challenges and aspirations of continental trade integration.

As Prof. Oramah summed it up: “Harare will now be a meeting point where Africa negotiates its future with itself.”

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