By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Chief Executive Officer, ECOMARKET-ECOFAIRS, Mr Ejarkaminor Sylvester, says the forthcoming Africa-Europe (Afri-Euro) trade mission and the Great Nigeria International Trade Fair (GNITF) 2026 will open new frontiers for cross-border trade and investment between Africa and Europe.
Sylvester said this on Wednesday during a presentation on the Afri-Euro trade mission and the unveiling of the GNITF scheduled to hold from Sept. 25 to Sept. 30 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
He said the initiative was designed to strengthen economic relations between African and European countries, while creating opportunities across key sectors including fashion, pharmaceuticals, technology and services.
According to him, ECOFAIRS has commenced engagements with European institutions, including the German, Spanish and French embassies, as well as chambers of commerce, to drive participation and investment inflows.
“We are working to attract investors from both Africa and Europe by creating a win-win business environment.
“Our objective is not just to organise trade fairs where participants sell and leave, but to build lasting partnerships that enable continuous business relationships between countries,” he said.
Sylvester said the Afri-Euro trade mission would facilitate market access for African businesses, promote technology transfer, enhance industrial collaboration and attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria and the continent.
He added that the GNITF 2026 was designed to prioritise long-term business partnerships rather than short-term sales typical of conventional exhibitions.
He said the initiative would redefine the traditional trade fair model by ensuring sustained engagement between businesses beyond the event period.
Sylvester said the mission would also involve structured pre-engagements with participating businesses to identify export opportunities and match them with potential buyers and partners in Europe.
“For instance, exporters of products like peanuts or cashew will already have discussions with potential buyers before travelling, making it easier to close deals and scale operations,” he said.
He noted that the trade mission would include factory tours and business meetings in Europe.
He also encouraged European firms to participate in the Nigerian fair.
Sylvester said exhibitors at the fair would be drawn from across Africa and Europe, with Nigerian participants accounting for not more than 30 per cent to ensure diversity and broader international exposure.
He added that ECOFAIRS would collaborate with key Nigerian institutions such as the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council and the Energy Commission of Nigeria to ensure policy alignment and credibility.
According to him, discussions are also ongoing with financial institutions, including Lotus Bank and Access Bank, to support industry participation.
“We work closely with agencies like SMEDAN, NEPC, MAN and NACCIMA to ensure structured participation across markets,” he said.
Sylvester said ECOFAIRS remained committed to facilitating trade through structured platforms such as exhibitions, conferences, business-to-business meetings and investment forums.
He urged interested participants to register through relevant government agencies or via the official Afri-Euro platform.
Sylvester said the initiative aligned with ECOFAIRS’ vision of becoming a leading global platform connecting Africa to international markets through strategic trade and investment partnerships. (NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
