DURBAN - Dignitaries erupted to a round of applause at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) on Thursday where an agreement was signed for South Africa to host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021.
KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala, Afreximbank president Benedict Orama and Albert Muchanga, the AU Commissioner for Economic Development Trade, Industry and Mining, signed an agreement for the fair which will be held in Durban on November 15 to 21.
The fair serves as a strategic platform to build bridges for the implementation of a successful African Continental Free Trade Area (IfCFTA).
Prior to the signing ceremony, there was a walk-about by the dignitaries at the ICC.
In a statement, KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs spokesperson Bheki Mbanjwa said the event promises to be one of the biggest hosted by the country since the outbreak of Covid-19.
The premier’s office said the IATF is the biggest trade fair on the African continent and is expected to generate over $40 billion in trade and investment deals.
Mbanjwa said the signing ceremony will be followed by a roadshow which includes a panel discussion on the topic: “Building Forward Better Post Covid-19: Promoting South Africa-Africa Trade & Investment under the AfCTA”.
Other participants in the signing ceremony were secretary-general of the AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay and eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.
Daily News