The Director General, DG of the World Trade Organization, WTO Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has thrown her support behind the upcoming Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo taking place in November in Abuja
She urged African nations to leverage the opportunity provided by the upcoming event to harness their cultural and creative assets for accelerated trade and economic growth.
“The theme of this Expo, ‘Optimizing Africa’s Comparative and Competitive Advantage for Accelerated Trade and Economic Growth’, is timely and highly relevant,” she said. 
She added that “Africa is immensely endowed with cultural and touristic opportunities. Now is the time to leverage these advantages to integrate more supply chains. At the WTO, we believe the future of trade lies in services” – and tourism and the creative economy have a central role to play. The DG expressed appreciation for the invitation to speak at the event.
In a letter dated July 24, 2025, personally signed and sent to the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Afrocultour (orgainizers of the Expo), Mr Chuks Akamadu, the former Nigeria’s finance minister said “I wish the organizers a successful and impactful event, and I look forward to engaging in the future,”
The Africa Tourism and Creative Economy Expo scheduled for November 24-25, 2025 in Abuja is expected to draw stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, with the aim of boosting trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
