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COVER STORY
African Heads of State Converge in Durban for Intra-African Trade Fair 2021.
KwaZulu-Natal Province — proud host of Intra-African Trade Fair
The Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban recently hosted the sixth major international in-person trade fair in November 2021. The seven-day expo which kicked off large-scale business events in the city was a resounding success. The who’s-who of African leaders attended the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) from 15 to 21 November to build a strategic platform to boost trade and investment throughout the continent.
Organised by the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat, hosted by the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) took place at the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
IATF2021 provided a platform to promote trade under the AfCFTA. It brought together continental and global buyers and sellers, and enabled stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and the economic integration of the continent. In addition to establishing business-to-business and business-togovernment exchange platforms for business deals and advisory services, IATF2021 also operated IATF2021 Virtual, an interactive online platform that replicates the physical event. IATF2021 also focused on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry, with dedicated programmes. A conference ran alongside the exhibition and featured high-profile speakers and panellists addressing topical issues relating to trade, trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, trade-enabling infrastructure, trade standards, industrialisation, regional value chains and investment.
Ms Sonto Mayise, general manager of the Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau.
Commenting on the successful hosting of IATF 2021, the woman behind the success of the IATF, Ms Sonto Mayise, general manager of the Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau, commented: “In the midst of a global pandemic, we had an incident free IATF 2021. We thank the many people who worked hard behind the scenes to make it a truly memorable event. We pay tribute, to law-enforcement agencies for diligently working to safeguard the event and all participants. We were truly honoured to see the participation of African Heads of State and Governments, African diplomats, senior government leaders, captains of industry, entrepreneurs, exhibitors, and scholars. We are happy that we reached and surpassed many of our targets.”
“It is no mean feat to pull together seven sitting heads of state to grace the opening ceremony and they stayed throughout the ceremony that lasted for hours. To me that is commitment towards the IATF at the highest level. The IATF delivered on its objectives... When I look at what we accomplished, the word that comes to my mind is ‘impressive’. It is impressive due to our display of African ingenuity and furthermore, our readiness to collaborate and work together. It is impressive that so many deals were signed and closed…KwaZulu-Natal is open for business…KwaZulu-Natal is a safe destination for business events… Zulu Kingdom… Exceptional.”
Durban ICC, host venue of IATF 2021.
Intra African Trade Fair attracted over 11,828 delegates who attended the event physically, while over 27,000 did so virtually via the IATF Virtual platform, which streamed the event live and offered other features that replicated the physical trade fair, bringing the total number of participants to about 39,000. Participants at IATF 2021 came from 128 countries around the world. Over a target of 1,100 exhibitors – as set out in the key performance indicators – unveiled in 2019 on the background of the lessons learnt from the first IATF in Cairo, Egypt in 2018, IATF 2021 saw 1,161 exhibitors including 838 companies from 59 countries of which 46 came from Africa, showcased their goods and services, in what was recognised as a massively successful event. The trade deals concluded, amounted to over US$41.5 billion, exceeding the US$32 billion mark set at IATF 2018.
Four country days were also organised, dedicated to South Africa, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, double the number that featured in the inaugural Cairo 2018 event.
Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, described IATF as a movement towards an economically reliable Africa.
Chief Obasanjo complimented Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank and the Premier of KwaZuluNatal, Sihle Zikalala and all those who played a role in the success of the event, which was rescheduled to Durban, after Kigali, the initial host, was curtailed in its preparations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Province of KwaZulu-Natal had only four months to prepare for the event, whose opening ceremony was graced with the presence of seven heads of state and government, including President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, President Lazarus Chakwere of Malawi, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Hon. Hussein Mwinyi of Zanzibar and the Rwandan Prime Minister, Hon. Edouard Ngirente, all whose presence Chief Obasanjo described as “proof of commitment to the IATF at the highest level.”
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Province, Mr. Sihle Zikalala said “ Notwithstanding challenges associated with the hosting the IATF 2021, the outcome of the event shows that if we work together as the Continent we will make more gains through the promotion of Trade and Investment for the benefit of African companies, big and small. We owe this to the leadership that graced the event and those man and women who worked tiresly to ensure that this become a tremendous success. As I pause, I would like to express my appreciation to the Afreximbank, AU and AFCTA Secretariat for bringing this signature event to our shores.”
What is Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF)?
The Intra-African Trade Fair is a trade show 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.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
– President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.
What does IATF have to offer?
An opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their goods and services, engage in Business to Business (B2B) exchanges and conclude business deals.
A unique and valuable platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.2 billion people with a GDP of over US$2.5 trillion created under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
IATF programme of events at a glance
• Trade and Investment Forum comprising: IATF2021 Conference
This conference featured leading African and international speakers and a variety of sessions dealing with African trade and investment. Specifically, the conference had dedicated sessions on trade and investment opportunities under the AfCFTA, including training workshops covering exporting, standards, and marketing.
• Business-to-Business and Business-to-Government
Providing opportunities for matchmaking, business exchanges and conclusion of business and investment deals.
• Country Days
Selected countries showcased their trade, investment, tourism and cultural opportunities.
• Virtual Trade Fair (VTF)
Enabled showcasing of goods, services and investment opportunities on an interactive online platform. The Virtual Trade Fair is continuing, even after the Trade Fair. For more information on VTF visit: https://www.intrafricantradefair. com/en/virtual-trade-fair
• Creative Africa
Showcasing Africa’s creative economy with a Fashion Show, Music, Film, Creative Africa Summit and a dedicated Creative Industry Exhibition.
• The IATF Automotive Show
The Automotive Show segment had a dedicated Auto Exhibition, an Automotive Workshop and a B2B/B2G for the Automotive Industry. IATF Automotive Show presented a platform for car manufacturers, assemblers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and component suppliers exhibiting their products and interacted with potential buyers and suppliers.
• The Youth Start-Up
This segment had a dedicated Pavilion for Youth Start-Ups in Africa where they highlighted their goods and services.
IATF2021 also provided opportunities for matchmaking with venture capitalists, entrepreneurship training, networking amongst the youth and other delegates at the IATF. There are positive results, and deals signed for youth from the continent and mainly KwaZulu-Natal.
The President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah said, “Despite the challenges experienced in the lead up to the IATF2021 event, such as Covid-19 pandemic causing postponements of the date of holding the Trade Fair and eventual change of host country from Rwanda to South Africa, as well as challenges experienced during the Trade Fair, among others visas for foreign exhibitors, delegates, buyers and visitors and long queues at the accreditation centre due to the overwhelming attendance response, I wish to express my gratitude to the leadership of the President of South Africa and the commitment shown by the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, through the Premier and my dear brother, Mr. Sihle Zikalala, for hosting the Trade Fair that has proved to be a resounding success and exceeded all the key targets that were set for IATF2021.” H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF 2021 Advisory Council and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commended the outstanding performance while congratulating the organisers and the host country for their tenacity. “Despite the uncertain environment arising from the Covid-19 pandemic situation, IATF 2021 attracted exhibitors from 69 countries, of which 46 were African countries. Buyers, sellers and investors came physically and virtually from across Africa and beyond to connect and exchange trade, investment and market information. We have effectively begun the process of building bridges for a successful AfCFTA, less than a year after the commencement of trade under this agreement,” said Chief Obasanjo. “We congratulate the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, Afreximbank, the AU Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, and thank them for the swift efforts made in record time to organise this historic event, which has resulted in the resounding success that we see today.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe; President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council.
“Between the first and the 12th centuries, extraordinary events happened in Africa, events that transformed not just the history of the continent, but the history of the world.” – Henry Louis Gates Jr, Africa’s Great Civilisations.
Moreover, the fair proved to be a powerful uniting force across the continent, in the face of an insidious pandemic that continues to divide the world into north and south, rich and poor, and vaccinated and unvaccinated.
The IATF showed the world that Africa need no longer remain on the periphery of the global trading system: it can and will industrialise and diversify its exports, break out of existing trade patterns and seek its own unique development path.
All efforts were made to pursue enhanced connectivity and trade between our peoples, and to revive the commercial culture and market economies of ancient and medieval Africa, which were hallmarks of African civilisation.
At the opening of the fair, President Cyril Ramaphosa aptly said: “It is our expectation that this Intra-African Trade Fair will further cement its position as Africa’s premier trading platform, where African manufacturers can promote and sell more ‘made in Africa’ goods to one another. This is critical if we are to change the distorted trade relationship that exists between African countries and the rest of the world.”
The event also came at a critical juncture in South Africa’s leadership role in Africa, particularly given President Ramaphosa’s prioritisation of economic diplomacy on and with the continent.
Africa sits at the core of South Africa’s foreign policy. Since 1994, the country’s leaders have accepted that its success is inextricably linked to that of the continent.
A democratic South Africa was therefore at the forefront of a plethora of African ideational and institutional initiatives, whose aim was to strategically reposition the continent in the callous global geopolitical system.
One such initiative was the transmutation of the Organisation of African Unity into the African Union (AU) on 9 July 2002, in Durban. Despite the challenges that remain, the AU has now evolved into an organisation which Africans should be proud of. South Africa was also at the centre of other landmark initiatives, such as the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development and the African Peer Review Mechanism, whose successes have defined the continent’s socio-economic and democratic trajectory.
The hosting of the IATF – organised by Afreximbank, the AU and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat and the Province of KwaZuluNatal – was a continuation of South Africa’s tradition of outstanding service to the people of the continent.
If we are to achieve ‘the Africa we want’, it is high time that countries like South Africa ensured the actualisation of initiatives such as the Cape to Cairo project, from which other economic opportunities could emerge.
Extraordinary events are taking place on the continent again, with the potential to effect real structural transformation in the economies of its countries and, indeed, to trigger strategic shifts in the global economic system.
The journey is bound to be filled with all manner of obstacles, but by working together, we will certainly be triumphant — as the success of the recent IATF demonstrated. It is now time for South Africa to lead!
More than 80 South African companies, had an opportunity to showcase their products and services at IATF 2021.
According to Sihle Zikalala, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Province: “The trade fair offered us an opportunity to profile and market proudly South African goods and services, build lasting networks and establish collaborations that will increase South Africa’s goods and services exports into the continent and position South Africa as the partner of choice.
“It further highlighted the best of South African local manufacturing capability in the agriculture and agro-processing; automotive; construction and infrastructure development; consumer goods; energy and power; engineering; footwear; leather and textiles; heavy industries and light manufacturing; health care and pharmaceuticals; information and communication technology and Innovation; logistics; and mining sectors,” Mr Zikalala said.
He added that beyond positioning the country and the province as a major player in the continent and as an attractive and competitive business, investment and tourism destination, KwaZulu-Natal is committed to promoting intra-African trade and the growth of the African continent through the great relationship that the Province of KwaZuluNatal enjoys with Afreximbank.
KwaZulu-Natal — a hub for business events
The word Zulu means ‘people of heaven,’ and this is the word that is known throughout the world. We use this word to make potential tourists aware of the many heavenly attractions of our province and why Durban and KwaZulu-Natal are an ideal meeting venue for conventions, smaller meetings and incentives offerings. We can use these offerings to provide the overarching distinctive experience which so many conference delegates are now seeking, particularly through pre and post tours to KwaZulu-Natal’s eight tourism regions namely the Battlefields; Drakensberg; Elephant Coast; Pietermaritzburg and Midlands; North Coast; South Coast and Zululand. These experiences are also ideal for the crafting of unique incentive tour offerings.
The Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau is mandated to promote business events services into the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the metropolitan area of Durban. The Zulu Kingdom, through the Durban KZN Convention Bureau, provides a hub for business events to bring about tourism growth and socio-economic development. Across the province, a host of conference and events facilities are set against the backdrop of majestic mountains, sun kissed beaches or bush retreats and it is a home to two world heritage sites.
Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal Convention Bureau assists with the following:
• Bid documents;
• Bid presentations.
• Promotional materials.
• Educational trips and site inspections.
• Supplier information and quotations.
• Social programmes.
• Pre- and post tours and incentive packages.
• Assistance with congress bids.
• Convention publicity and delegate boosting.
• Destination display and promotion.
• Information kits and welcome packs for delegates.
• Shuttle services; and
• Identification of professional conference organiser (PCO) services.
An ecstatic Lindiwe Rakharebe, chief executive officer of Durban ICC, the host venue, said that the convention centre lived up to expectations to successfully stage a crucial event after being almost mothballed since the Covid-19 pandemic grounded world global travel and the business events industry.
Ms Rakharebe said that the IATF was previously due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda. “The decision to move the Trade Fair to Durban was arrived at after formal consultations with the government of Rwanda, who indicated that logistical constraints related to the Covid-19 pandemic had adversely affected the progress of construction of a new facility to host the event.
“Thus, when the call came for Durban ICC to be the venue, we did not have to think twice. We pulled out all the stops to stage an international event within a few months — a mammoth undertaking which usually takes at least two years to put together,” she said.
