Africa Ireland Trade Horizons
Africa Ireland Trade Horizons took place in Dublin on 24 June 2025, bringing together leaders, policymakers, and business representatives from across Africa and Ireland to explore opportunities for trade, investment, and collaboration.
This flagship event, hosted by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment aimed to strengthen economic ties between the two regions by fostering dialogue on innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
The forum provided a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and forging partnerships that advance mutual economic growth, with a focus on key sectors such as:
Technology
Renewable-energy
Agribusiness
Conference themes
The day included a series of expert panels, breakout sessions and workshops, offering deep dives on key areas, such as:
- ‘Shaping trade for mutual prosperity’: Trade facilitation, market access and regulation in Ireland, Africa and the EU
- ‘Innovating for sustainable growth’: Technology and entrepreneurship in the digital age
- ‘Feeding growth’: Agriculture, food and sustainable development
- ‘People and prosperity’: Education, tourism and diaspora
- ‘Powering the green transition’: Sustainable energy and supply chains
- ‘Enabling business, driving growth’: Financial services and fintech
Africa Ireland Trade Horizons 2025 Programme
| 08:00 | Registration and networking |
| 09:00 | Opening address: Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth TD |
| 09:20 | Keynote address: Johanna Hill, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation |
| 09:45-13:00 |
Africa Ireland Trade Horizons morning session, including: · Shaping trade for mutual prosperity – Trade facilitation, market access and regulation Address by Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD · Feeding growth – Food, Agriculture, and sustainable development · Enabling business, driving growth – Financial services and fintech Keynote address: Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:15 | Keynote address: Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre |
| 14:40- 17:00 |
Africa Ireland Trade Horizons afternoon session, including: · Powering the green transition – Global Gateway, supply chains, energy and green transition · Innovating for sustainable growth – Technology and entrepreneurship · Partnerships, people and prosperity – Education, research and diaspora |
| 17:00 | Closing address: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris TD |
| 17:20 | Networking reception |