Algiers, Algeria – African Union Deputy Chairperson Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi has called on African countries to strengthen trade within the continent, saying it is the key to industrialisation, stability, and prosperity.
Speaking at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers, Haddadi said the vision is of an integrated Africa where growth is inclusive, self-reliant, and built on dignity. She described intra-African trade as different from global trade because it is driven mainly by manufactured goods rather than raw materials.
Since its inception in 2018, the IATF has grown into Africa’s leading trade and investment marketplace, promoting the AfCFTA agenda. Haddadi told delegates that these exchanges are not just about deals but about building industries, creating value, and making “Made in Africa” a mark of pride.
She added that boosting internal trade is both an economic necessity and a demonstration of Africa’s political will to reform and take its place as a dynamic global force.
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