Stakeholders in trade and investment have gathered to strengthen intra-African trade and investment, simplify access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and create stronger connections between businesses, investors, and markets across the continent. The gathering was a press briefing ahead of the Future Africa Trade and Investment (FATI) Expo 2026, scheduled to take place from November 5 to 10 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The expo aims to bring governments, investors, businesses, financial institutions, development partners, and entrepreneurs together to turn discussions into business relationships and investment opportunities.
According to International Chairperson and Project Visionary of FATI Expo, Ofiepre Valentina Amiebi-Uchegbu, the continent has enormous potential, but that potential alone is not enough without stronger economic connections. She stated that Africa's vast natural resources, youthful population, growing markets, and entrepreneurial capacity would have greater economic impact if barriers to cross-border trade were removed and businesses were connected to capital, technology, and new markets. The expo will feature investment forums, business matchmaking, exhibitions, and investment meetings, focusing on agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, energy, technology, finance, infrastructure, and the blue economy.
The choice of Zanzibar as the host location is strategic due to its position within the wider Indian Ocean economic space and its potential to facilitate connections between East and West Africa, as well as international markets. Amiebi-Uchegbu emphasized that the expo is not just about Zanzibar, but about taking Africa to Zanzibar. The event aims to enable investors from one part of Africa to discover opportunities in another, while businesses can find new customers and partners, and governments can connect directly with potential investors.
National Coordinator, NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs (NYE), Amb. Dr. Sameera Abubakar Abdullahi, highlighted the need for a simpler and more accessible understanding of the AfCFTA among African businesses. She stressed that the provisions of AfCFTA need to be broken down to make it easier for entrepreneurs and market women to understand and use. Abdullahi emphasized that the chamber community, with its network of bilateral, multilateral, sectoral, women, and youth chambers, is well-positioned to support efforts aimed at expanding trade across African markets.
Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasized that Africa must move beyond exporting raw materials and develop industries capable of creating greater value within the continent. He stated that industrialization and value addition will ensure that Africa stops exporting raw materials and starts building prosperity at home. Cross-border trade and intra-African investment will give practical meaning to AfCFTA, while business matchmaking can help connect entrepreneurs and producers with capital and markets.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Musa Musawa, expressed the ministry's support for the initiative and encouraged stakeholders to participate actively in the expo. The FATI Expo is being organized by the Amdua Youth Impact Initiative through the International Joint Secretariat of FATI Expo, with the Zanzibar Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries as co-host. Other partners include the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority, National Orientation Agency, Nigeria-Tanzania Business Forum, KLEBER Group, and Women Community in Africa.
The FATI Expo 2026 aims to create a platform for African businesses, investors, and governments to connect and explore opportunities for trade and investment. With a focus on simplifying access to AfCFTA and promoting intra-African trade, the expo is expected to have a significant impact on the continent's economic growth. By bringing together stakeholders from across Africa, the expo aims to turn discussions into business relationships and investment opportunities, ultimately contributing to the continent's economic development.
Key points
- The FATI Expo 2026 aims to simplify access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and promote intra-African trade and investment.
- The expo will feature investment forums, business matchmaking, exhibitions, and investment meetings, focusing on key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.
- The event aims to connect businesses, investors, and governments across Africa, ultimately contributing to the continent's economic growth and development.
