The Africa Global Trade Alliance (AGTA) today announces its evolution from Made in Africa Expo Canada into a Canadian founded global alliance advancing trade, investment and strategic partnerships between Africa and markets worldwide.
The expansion builds on the AfriCanada Expo in Edmonton and responds to a practical challenge in international trade: bringing stakeholders together is only the beginning. Turning those connections into commercial outcomes requires trusted counterparts, market intelligence, trade readiness and sustained follow through.
AGTA’s year round framework brings businesses, governments, chambers of commerce, investors, institutions and diaspora networks together under one Global Trade Charter. Its mandate extends from opening market opportunities to strengthening the relationships and systems needed to move partnerships forward.
“Africa’s place in global trade must reflect its productive capacity, expertise and investment potential,” said HRH Christiana Ranicia Erickson, Global President of AGTA. “We are building an alliance where businesses, governments, investors and institutions can work together as partners—and where the work continues long after an event ends.”
FIVE PILLARS. ONE GLOBAL TRADE CHARTER.
AGTA’s operating framework is organised around five connected pillars:
Events: Convenings that bring decision makers together around trade, investment and partnership opportunities, anchored by the AfriCanada Expo in Edmonton and the planned AGTA Summit 2027 in Manila, Philippines.
Chambers: A network of national chambers led by Country Directors, combining local market knowledge and relationships with a common global standard.
Trade Missions: A planned quarterly programme of targeted missions, supported by vetted counterparts, pre arranged meetings and post mission follow up.
Trade Academy: Professional training and certification designed to strengthen trade readiness and equip participants with practical skills for cross border business.
Trade Hub: A framework for verified business visibility, market connections and transaction support, incorporating a business directory, marketplace, Connecta AI matching and deal documentation services.
Together, these pillars are designed to connect the stages of international trade: identifying an opportunity, preparing participants, introducing credible counterparts and supporting the next steps toward a transaction or partnership.
“AGTA began with a convening in Edmonton. It showed us both the strength of the opportunity and the need for continuity,” Erickson said. “Expos create meetings. Infrastructure creates outcomes. Our responsibility is to build the systems that carry the follow through after the meeting ends.”
A COMMON STANDARD FOR TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS
The AGTA Global Trade Charter sets out four commitments: verify counterparts before introducing them; give national chambers the autonomy to serve their markets within a shared global standard; strengthen trade readiness through training and certification; and return the knowledge generated across the alliance to its members.
Verification sits at the centre of that approach. AGTA’s standard calls for relevant checks on business registration, facilities, capacity and references before a counterpart enters its directory or is introduced through its matching services.
“An introduction carries responsibility,” Erickson said. “Trust must be built into the process from the beginning. A strong pitch should lead to proper checks, and a promising meeting should lead to a clear next step.”
BUILDING THE 2027 PROGRAMME
AGTA’s proposed 2027 programme combines its flagship events with sector focused missions across West Africa, Canada, East Africa and Southern Africa.
Planned mission themes include agri-processing, clean energy, critical minerals, manufacturing and trade finance. Each mission is intended to connect participants around specific commercial opportunities, with preparation before departure and structured follow up afterward.
AfriCanada Expo 2027 is planned for 1-5 June in Edmonton, under the theme “From Potential to Prosperity: Building the Africa Canada Trade Corridor.” The Expo will connect African and Canadian stakeholders with wider global markets through business meetings, sector discussions, tours and partnership development.
The planned AGTA Summit 2027 in Manila will extend the alliance’s convening platform into Asia, creating opportunities for engagement between Africa, the Philippines and global partners. Final event arrangements and mission participation details will be announced through AGTA’s official channels.
PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE TRADE ECOSYSTEM
AGTA’s membership framework provides pathways for individuals, diaspora professionals, SMEs, corporate partners, national chambers and Country Directors. Its expansion plan targets a national chamber network across twenty countries.
Businesses, public institutions, investors, chambers and prospective partners are invited to explore membership, programme participation and collaboration at www.agtaworld.org.
“Africa is a market of abundance, capability and global relevance,” Erickson added. “Our ambition is to strengthen its position as an equal partner in global trade and to create opportunities that deliver shared prosperity across every corridor we help build.”
ABOUT AFRICA GLOBAL TRADE ALLIANCE
The Africa Global Trade Alliance (AGTA) is a Canadian founded global alliance headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. It advances trade, investment and strategic partnerships by connecting businesses, governments, chambers, investors, institutions and diaspora networks across Africa and global markets.
AGTA operates through five pillars Events, Chambers, Trade Missions, the Trade Academy and the Trade Hub under one Global Trade Charter. Led by Global President HRH Christiana Ranicia Erickson, the alliance builds the relationships, knowledge and systems needed to turn connections into lasting commercial opportunities.
Connecting Markets. Creating Prosperity. Building Global Partnerships.
AGTA MEDIA CONTACT
+1 (587) 501-3257
hello@agtaworld.org
events@agtaworld.org
partnerships@agtaworld.org
www.agtaworld.org | @agtaworld
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