The second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) has been rescheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from November 15th to 21, 2021.
The Trade Fair was previously due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in December, 2021.
A statement explained that the decision to move the Trade Fair to Durban was made by the Advisory Council of IATF2021 at its 10th meeting held virtually in May 2021.
This decision 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.
Commenting on the decision, IATF2021 Advisory Council Chairman and former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, commended the Government of Rwanda, Afreximbank, the AU, the AfCFTA Secretariat and all IATF stakeholders for showing great resilience in adapting to the uncertain environment arising from the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
“We have once again been able to shoulder the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting all sectors worldwide and forcing Governments, corporates and individuals to take unprecedented measures to ensure public safety and keep economies running,” Obasanjo said.
“Relocating IATF2021 to Durban saves us time on the calendar and will enable African countries and corporates, as part of their recovery strategy, to take full advantage of the Trade Fair, which is also an important component of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under which trading commenced this year,” he added.
He expressed optimism that, “a significant number of people would have been vaccinated by November and this will allow us to have a successful event.”
