Zimbabwe Set to Benefit from Hosting IATFCO Headquarters in Harare
Zimbabwe is poised to unlock significant economic opportunities by hosting the headquarters of the Intra-African Trade Fair Company (IATFCO) in Harare. Experts affirm this development will stimulate key domestic value chains while positioning the country as an important hub within Africa’s growing trade ecosystem.
A strategic milestone for Zimbabwe’s trade landscape
The official gazetting of the Host Country Agreement between Zimbabwe and partners including the African Export-Import Bank, the African Union Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA) marks a major advance in the country’s integration into continental trade frameworks.
Established as a permanent institution following its 2025 launch in Algiers, IATFCO aims to be sustainable, scalable, and closely aligned with AfCFTA’s ambitions. Zimbabwe won the hosting rights after a competitive bid, defeating contenders such as Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa.
The country’s modern conferencing facilities, robust air connectivity, hotel infrastructure, and available land for expansion were decisive factors securing the award.
Driving economic growth through enhanced trade and business tourism
The establishment of IATFCO’s headquarters is expected to boost economic activity through regular exhibitions, high-level conferences, and business tourism. These events will invigorate sectors including aviation, road transport, logistics, hospitality, and urban services.
The Host Country Agreement contains comprehensive commitments, such as waiving import and customs duties for goods and products temporarily imported for exhibition or operations, with a minimum threshold of US$30,000 per participant or exhibitor. It also facilitates re-exportation and supports promotion and mobilisation of local businesses to engage actively in IATF events.
Visa facilitation measures including waivers or visa-on-arrival for participants will ensure smooth and efficient movement to and from the fair, further elevating Zimbabwe’s attractiveness as a trade and conference destination.
World-class infrastructure to support continental trade
The government is tasked with providing exhibition and office facilities meeting international standards, including at least 50,000–60,000 square metres of gross exhibition space. Venues must accommodate plenary sessions for 5,000 attendees, multiple breakout rooms, VIP lounges, press rooms, and meeting spaces. Crucially, these facilities should be within a 15-kilometre radius of a major airport with direct African connections and near key hotels and recreational facilities.
This infrastructure will underpin Zimbabwe’s capacity to host large-scale continental events, linking trade, investment, and cultural networks.
Expert insights: Unlocking Zimbabwe’s regional leadership potential
Regional trade expert Mr Alois Chibvuri highlights that hosting IATFCO elevates Harare as a central hub for trade, investment, and economic diplomacy in Africa. He notes improvements to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and expanding road networks will facilitate easier access for delegates and investors.
Chibvuri emphasises that the growth of Zimbabwe’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector will create jobs and foster partnerships across hospitality and technology sectors. Zimbabwe’s active engagement in AfCFTA will help leverage these developments for broad-based economic growth and regional cooperation.
Economic analyst Mr Gilbert Tapera remarks that businesses will benefit from integration into continental trade networks, gaining access to a market with over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$3.5 trillion. This gives Zimbabwean enterprises opportunities to diversify exports, increase competitiveness, and attract foreign direct investment.
Tapera adds that IATFCO will provide crucial platforms for knowledge transfer, training, and mentorship — empowering local entrepreneurs to navigate complex trade dynamics and scale up operations. Streamlined trade facilitation will further reduce barriers, strengthening industry resilience and rural livelihoods across Zimbabwe.
A platform to fast-track Zimbabwe’s trade and development ambitions
Organised by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission, and AfCFTA Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair is designed to foster trade and investment across Africa, providing opportunities for businesses to showcase products, network, and solve trade challenges collaboratively.
Hosting the IATFCO headquarters places Zimbabwe at the forefront of this continental effort, offering tangible benefits for agriculture, manufacturing, services, and transport sectors.
As Zimbabwe strengthens its infrastructure and policy frameworks, the country stands to reap broad economic dividends from enhanced regional integration, trade facilitation, and investment attraction — all contributing to sustained growth and prosperity.
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