ALGIERS, Sept 9 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya demonstrated its commitment to continental integration at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 in Algiers this week, with senior government officials outlining ambitious infrastructure and policy initiatives designed to boost regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, leading Kenya’s high-level delegation alongside National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, used the platform to showcase Kenya’s strategic investments in cross-border connectivity and digital infrastructure during the five-day event that concluded Tuesday under the theme Gateway to New Opportunities.
Speaking at the forum, Deputy President Kindiki highlighted Kenya’s alignment with continental trade objectives through several transformative projects.
He cited the Lamu Port and LAPSSET Corridor initiative, which creates vital links between Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan through integrated roads, pipelines, and internet connectivity, with future railway extensions planned.
The Standard Gauge Railway emerged as another cornerstone of Kenya’s regional integration strategy, with extensions planned from Mombasa through Nairobi to Uganda and ultimately reaching the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This ambitious railway network aims to create an unprecedented transportation link connecting the Indian Ocean to the West African coast.
To streamline cross-border commerce, Kenya announced the development of modern one-stop border posts with Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia.
These facilities will enable officials from multiple agencies to operate from single locations, significantly reducing bureaucratic barriers for goods and people movement.
Kenya’s technological advancement took center stage as Deputy President Kindiki revealed the country has already deployed 24,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable as part of a comprehensive 100,000-kilometer project scheduled for completion within two and a half years.
This digital backbone represents a critical component of Kenya’s strategy to facilitate seamless continental trade.
The Deputy President also emphasized Kenya’s pioneering role in financial technology, particularly mobile money innovations, while advocating for the perfection of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable real-time settlements in local currencies across the continent.
Acknowledging Africa’s challenging fiscal environment, Kindiki called for innovative resource mobilization strategies, including expanded use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to finance trade infrastructure and digitalization projects.
This approach reflects Kenya’s pragmatic response to shrinking fiscal space and rising debt concerns across the continent.
The Kenyan delegation emphasized that continental prosperity must be inclusive across generations, gender, and regions.
“For Africa to achieve prosperity, it must be inclusive across generations, gender, and regions. Women and young people must be deliberately included in our growth story,” Deputy President Kindiki declared.
The announcement that Nigeria will host IATF 2027 in Lagos marks the fair’s move to West Africa, following previous editions in North Africa (Egypt & Algeria) and South Africa. This geographical rotation pattern, designed to strengthen regional integration across the continent, positions East and Central African nations as prime candidates for the 2029 edition of the biennial trade fair.
Kenya’s robust participation at the Algiers summit, combined with its demonstrated infrastructure capabilities and strategic location, strengthens its credentials as a potential future host.
The country’s comprehensive approach to regional connectivity and digital infrastructure development aligns perfectly with IATF’s mission to facilitate trade across the AfCFTA’s single market of over 1.4 billion people.
The IATF, jointly organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission, and AfCFTA Secretariat, continues to deliver significant economic impact.
The past three editions have generated over $118 billion in trade and investment deals while attracting more than 70,000 visitors and 4,500 exhibitors.
As the Algiers edition concludes, Kenya is expected to announce new trade and investment agreements while outlining follow-up strategies to attract African regional headquarters for select industries, further cementing its position as a continental trade hub.
The Intra-African Trade Fair’s success in fostering business partnerships and exploring opportunities across Africa’s diverse markets reinforces its critical role in advancing the AfCFTA vision of integrated continental trade, with Kenya positioned at the forefront of this transformation. — NNN-KBC
