The Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria: Media Hype with No Realistic Justification!
In Algeria, there is no voice louder than the "Grand Exposition," the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair, held from September 4 to 10. This event has been elevated by official media to the status of a global event, surpassing even the UN leaders' meetings in importance, as if we were witnessing a global summit rather than a mere trade fair. Indeed, the Algerian parliament itself was forced to postpone its opening session, in an absurd scene that only occurs in the "Republic of Fairs," under the pretext of allowing the organization to succeed. A protocol session on September 2 is canceled because of a fair that begins on September 4? A logic that can only be understood in the land of generals.
Media hype without commercial substance
The expo was previously held in Cairo in 2018 and 2023, and in Durban, South Africa, in 2021, without any significant economic impact. Yet, the Algerian media insists on promoting the current edition as a historic turning point. Let's analyze this "hype" to see if it will produce any real "fruits."
The fair is advertised as attracting 35,000 visitors from 140 countries and 2,000 exhibitors. The reality is more modest: most visitors are Algerian, and the number of participating countries is exaggerated, as Algeria lacks active diplomatic relations with such a large number of countries. Moreover, businessmen do not parachute into exhibitions they know nothing about. As for the 2,000 exhibitors, most of them do not have actual exhibition pavilions, but rather a symbolic presence, as is the case at most exhibitions around the world, unless Algeria has discovered a new law of economic physics.
Billion dollar deals...on paper only
The most impressive figure is the $44 billion in projected deals. But these numbers are no different from their predecessors: $32 billion in Cairo 2018, $42 billion in Durban 2021 (the year of the pandemic!), and a similar number in Cairo 2023. Did these deals materialize? Of course not. Most of them are merely memoranda of understanding, or non-binding declarations of intent, signed on the sidelines of the exhibition to sweeten the image, while not even $10% of them turn into actual projects. They are propaganda for local consumption, nothing more.
Structural projects... on paper too
Algerian media boasts of “major structural” projects that affirm Algeria’s continental standing, such as:
Trans-Sahara HighwayIt is said to stretch 10,000 km between Algiers and Lagos. However, only 600 km of the 2,400 km of highway have actually been completed within Algeria. The remaining 7,600 km are mostly dilapidated roads, some of which are not even paved. So where is the highway? And where is African unity?
Tindouf-Zouérat roadIts completion is being promoted as an economic breakthrough for Mauritania. However, only 80 km have been completed, while the remaining 900 km have yet to begin. The percentage of completion? Less than 8%! Should we celebrate the emptiness?
Trans-Sahara Gas PipelineThe project is still under wraps and has not actually begun due to political and economic obstacles. However, the media insists that it is "underway."
Electrical and fiber optic interconnectionThey do not actually exist, and the projects are stalled at the borders of Niger and Mauritania. Is this "digital Algeria"?
Intra-trade figures: reality slaps the rhetoric
In 2018, intra-African trade reached 151 TP3T. In 2024, it will remain unchanged. Three editions of the exhibition, and no significant breakthrough. As for Algeria, its trade situation with Africa is more modest:
Algerian exports to Africa: $2.6 billion out of $52.4 billion, of which $1.8 billion goes to Tunisia alone. This means the rest of Africa receives only $800 million, or $1.5%, of total exports.
Imports from Africa: $1.8 billion out of $40 billion, most of which ($1.6 billion) comes from Egypt, Tunisia, and Mauritania. That means Africa accounts for only 0.5% of Algeria's imports.
Do these figures qualify Algeria to be a "trade bridge" between Africa and the world? The answer is clear: no.
Conclusion: The exhibition as a mirror for advertising
As usual, the Algerian media strives to paint a rosy picture of a fragile economic reality, hoping citizens will believe that their country is leading the continent to glory. However, the truth is that these exhibitions are nothing more than propaganda tools, a waste of money, and empty celebrations that produce nothing but more "media hype" without any economic or political substance.
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