Executive Summary
The Canada–Africa Trade and Investment Expo 2025 was successfully convened as a high-level platform designed to deepen economic cooperation, enhance trade facilitation, and stimulate investment flows between Canada and African countries. The Expo brought together senior government officials, business leaders, investors, trade institutions, SMEs, and development partners from both regions.
The event effectively met its core objectives by fostering strategic dialogue, showcasing priority investment opportunities, promoting bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and enabling direct Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) engagements. Overall, the Expo reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to strengthening economic relations with Africa and highlighted Africa’s growing role as a dynamic and strategic destination for trade and investment.
Objectives of the Expo
The key objectives of the Expo were to:
- Promote trade and investment opportunities between Canada and African markets
- Facilitate direct engagement between policymakers, investors, and business leaders
- Highlight priority sectors, including Agriculture, Energy (Oil & Gas), SMEs, Aviation, Technology, and Infrastructure
- Strengthen institutional and private-sector partnerships
- Provide a platform for networking, deal-making, and policy dialogue
Participation and Attendance
The Expo recorded strong and diverse participation, including:
- Two Executive State Governors representing Zamfara and Gombe States
- Senior government officials and policymakers
- Trade and investment promotion agencies
- Diplomatic missions and international organizations
- Private-sector leaders and investors
- SMEs, startups, and industry associations
- Nigeria–Canada Nollywood stakeholders
Participants were drawn primarily from Ontario-based businesses and institutions, as well as Nigeria, reflecting the Expo’s targeted strategic focus.
Key Highlights
Opening Ceremony
The Expo commenced with a formal opening ceremony featuring keynote addresses by the Executive Governors of Zamfara and Gombe States; Ambassador Abba-Zanna-Kawu; and the President and CEO of the Forum of Federations (Canada), Dr. Rupak Chattopadhyay. The speakers emphasized the importance of Canada–Africa economic collaboration, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
Plenary Sessions and Panel Discussions
High-level plenary and panel discussions focused on:
- Trade facilitation and market access
- Investment readiness and risk mitigation
- Financing opportunities and public-private partnerships
- Innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building
Sector-Focused Sessions
Dedicated sessions highlighted high-impact sectors, including:
- Agriculture and agri-business value chains
- Energy and natural resources
- SMEs and entrepreneurship
- Investment opportunities in Nigeria
Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) Meetings
Structured networking sessions enabled participants to:
- Explore strategic partnerships
- Discuss joint ventures
- Identify concrete trade and investment opportunities
Exhibition and Deal-Making
Exhibitors from Zamfara State and Canada showcased products, services, and investment opportunities, leading to meaningful engagements and early-stage commercial discussions.
Outcomes and Impact
The Expo delivered significant and measurable outcomes, including:
- The establishment of new trade and investment relationships
- Expressions of interest and preliminary agreements between Canadian and Nigerian firms
- Increased awareness of market opportunities on both sides
- Strengthened institutional collaboration between public and private stakeholders
- Identification of clear pathways for follow-up engagements and project development
Media and Visibility
The event achieved positive visibility through:
- Media coverage and press engagements, including Afro Global Toronto
- Digital and social media promotion
- Stakeholder communications and post-event outreach
This visibility enhanced the profile of the Expo and reinforced its credibility as a leading Canada–Africa economic engagement platform.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
While the Expo was largely successful, several key lessons were identified:
- The need to allocate additional time for B2B engagements
- Earlier coordination with international delegates to streamline logistics and scheduling
- Enhanced sector-specific matchmaking for future editions
It is noted that participation by a broader range of Canadian investors could have been stronger. This was primarily due to time constraints and the late confirmation of the conference, as formal notification to the Nigeria High Commission was received approximately one week prior to the arrival of the Nigerian delegation. These factors limited advance outreach and investor mobilization.
Conclusion
The Canada–Africa Trade and Investment Expo 2025 successfully achieved its strategic objectives and reaffirmed the strong potential for deeper economic collaboration between Canada and Nigeria. The Expo served as an effective catalyst for partnerships, investment discussions, and long-term cooperation.
The organizers express sincere appreciation to all speakers, partners, sponsors, delegates, and stakeholders whose contributions ensured the success of the event. Plans are underway to build on this momentum and further strengthen future editions of the Expo.
- Next Steps
- Conduct structured follow-up with participating organizations and investors
- Facilitate ongoing deal-making and project development
- Begin planning for the next edition of the Expo with expanded scope and participation
- Ensure improved coordination, earlier confirmations, and more effective planning for future events
