By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo (AFTCREE), a major continental initiative designed to promote tourism, creative industries, trade, investment, and economic growth across Africa. The move underscores Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a leading hub for cultural diplomacy, tourism development, and creative enterprise on the continent.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, described the Expo as a strategic platform aimed at unlocking Africa’s vast cultural, tourism, and creative assets for sustainable economic development. He noted that the initiative seeks to strengthen regional integration, attract investment, and enhance Africa’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The Expo, themed “Optimizing Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth,” is expected to bring together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and creative professionals from across the continent. Organisers believe the gathering will foster partnerships capable of transforming Africa’s tourism and creative sectors into major drivers of economic prosperity.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, pledged the committee’s commitment to delivering a world-class event that will showcase Africa’s cultural heritage, innovation, and investment opportunities.
He revealed that the Expo will also unveil Agenda 2030, a continental framework aimed at increasing Africa’s share of global trade from approximately two percent to ten percent by the end of the decade through targeted investments in tourism and the creative economy.
According to organisers, activities lined up for the event include trade fairs, exhibitions, investment workshops, business-to-business meetings, cultural showcases, and peer review sessions involving participating African countries.
These engagements are expected to facilitate knowledge sharing, investment promotion, and cross-border business opportunities.
The initiative has also attracted international attention. Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed support for the Expo, describing its objectives as timely and relevant to Africa’s economic transformation agenda.
She encouraged African nations to leverage their cultural and tourism assets to strengthen regional value chains and expand trade opportunities.
Analysts believe that if effectively implemented, the Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo could help diversify African economies, create jobs, increase foreign investment, and strengthen intra-African trade under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
They argue that tourism and creative industries remain among the continent’s most underutilized economic assets despite their enormous potential to generate revenue and employment.
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