40th Edition of FILDA, In 2025, With a New Name
The Angola International Fair (FILDA) will take place from July 22 to 27, 2025, in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of the province of Icolo e Bengo. 1182 companies from 16 countries will participate in this year's edition. Portugal has already confirmed its participation with a pavilion, where twenty-four companies will be represented.
The name change is a direct result of the country's new political and administrative division, as announced by Minister Rui Miguêns this Thursday in Luanda, during a press conference.
Despite the transition to “Angola International Fair”, the acronym FILDA remains in recognition of the event's historical legacy, consolidating the country's economic independence, thus aligning with the celebrations of fifty years of national independence.
The 2025 edition marks the first time the event will be held outside the Angolan capital, with the province of Icolo e Bengo hosting the country's largest business event. 93% of exhibitors are Angolan companies, a percentage reversal compared to previous editions.
The motto "50 years, consolidating economic independence"will be the guiding theme of the activities, with the Angolan Culture Hall highlighting artistic expressions from the twenty-one provinces. Among the new features is an exclusive pavilion for the automotive sector. Transportation to the venue will be affordable, and admission for minors will be free.
Context of Change
The territorial reclassification integrated the fairgrounds into Icolo and Bengo, motivating the onomastic transition to “Angola International FairThe Angolan government justified the change by the national scope of the event and Minister Rui Miguêns emphasized that maintaining the acronym FILDA honors the symbolic value accumulated over four decades.
A Arena Events, the fair's organizer, has already confirmed 1182 participating companies. Sixteen countries will be present, including Brazil, Turkey, and South Korea, which are among the international participants, with the United States and Canada expressing interest in joining the list.
The predominance of Angolan exhibitors reflects local industrialization, with 93% of companies confirmed, and sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing leading the way in registrations. This configuration reflects the strategic shift toward national protagonism, which contrasts with the past, when exhibitors were mostly foreign.
The Angolan Culture Hall will emerge as a creative hub, showcasing artistic expressions such as painting, literature and music from the twenty-one provinces during the six days of the event, thus celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of national independence.
The new exclusive pavilion, dedicated to the automotive sector, will bring together international brands, responding to the growth of the domestic market, showcasing new technologies and mobility solutions, and creating a platform for new industrial partnerships.
The organization guaranteed public transportation at symbolic prices, with buses connecting Luanda's populated areas to the fairgrounds, and children under twelve years old having free admission to the event. These measures aim to democratize access to Angola's largest business event.
Four Decades of Legacy
FILDA was founded in 1983 as a showcase for the post-independence economy. The event survived the civil war (1975-2002), holding annual events except between 1993 and 1999, consolidating its position as Angola's main business platform during the 90s. Its full recovery occurred in 2003, coinciding with the country's stabilization.
In the 2000s, the fair fostered partnerships with Portugal, Brazil, and China. International participation peaked in 2012, with 72% of exhibitors coming from abroad. However, the oil crisis (2014-2017) reduced global participation to 40%. However, the 2025 edition marks a return to national prominence.
The location in Luanda reflected the economic centralism inherited from colonialism, with the move to Icolo and Bengo aligning with the National Decentralization Plan (2020), in which the creation of the EEZ in 2022 appears to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Minister Rui Miguêns highlighted that the acronym FILDA remains in recognition of its historical capital, symbolizing 9.200 commercial agreements signed in four decades and emblematic launches such as the case of emblematic products from Unitel and Sonangol during the fair.
The fair witnessed the evolution of the Angolan economy from a planned to a mixed economy, with the first edition featuring only 34 state-owned companies and 12 private ones. The agricultural sector dominated the exhibitions until the early 90s, but investment in oil brought a number of global investors to the country.
The 2010s saw the emergence of technology startups at FILDA, such as Angola Cables, which introduced the SACS cable in 2016, connecting the country to Brazil. The fair also served as a platform for the launch of industrial policies, such as the 2018-2027 National Development Plan, announced at the 2017 edition.
FILDA also faced criticism for elitism in access during the 2000s, with tickets costing $100, limiting public participation. Starting in 2019, the organization adopted free admission for students, democratizing the event, attracting 15.000 visitors in 2023.
Geopolitical Impact
FILDA is the third largest trade event in Southern Africa, after the Johannesburg and Zambia Fairs, having catapulted Angola to 4th place in African exports in 2024 (according to data from Afreximbank), with growth of 130% in minerals and gas.
The fair strengthens regional integration, materialized through the 30% of exhibitors from SADC, including historic partners such as Zambia and Namibia, which have participated since 1991, and with the Portuguese pavilion having existed for 28 consecutive years.
The Culture Fair aims to combat the brain drain of talent to Europe and South America and responds to the Heritage Safeguarding Strategy (2023). Artists such as António Ole and Yonamine have exhibited in previous editions, presenting landmark works.
The new location in the EEZ strengthens cross-border cooperation with the DRC, as the province of Icolo e Bengo shares a 150-km border with that country. Congolese companies represent 12% of international exhibitors, and the Angolan government expects to double bilateral trade by 2027.
The presence of Turkey and Indonesia reflects the South-South economic diplomacy consolidated by agreements such as the Caculo Cabaça dam, whose construction agreement was signed at FILDA 2018. Both countries have been investing in Angolan infrastructure since 2015, and the fair offers a privileged stage to announce new investments.
South Korea is bringing technology to the Angolan agricultural sector, and companies like Hyundai will showcase machinery adapted to African soils. This cooperation reduces dependence on European imports, with the Ministry of Agriculture estimating productivity gains of around 40%.
The European Union has also maintained a collective pavilion since 2009, with this year's delegation led by Germany and France, Angola's main trading partners. Fisheries and timber processing agreements dominate the negotiations, but the 2025 edition will focus on renewable energy and vocational training.
Economic impact
Afreximbank confirms that Angola is among the five largest African exporters, with regional trade expected to grow by a further 12% in 2024 due to a 130% increase in minerals and gas. South Africa leads intra-continental trade with €35 billion in investment.
FILDA thus functions as a lever for regional economic integration, with the participation of SADC countries facilitating value chains, promoting connections between Southern African entrepreneurs, and strengthening the economy of the community space.
The international pavilions will occupy 30% of the exhibition area, with Portugal presenting the largest pavilion, covering three hundred square meters. AICEP coordinates the participation of the twenty-four Portuguese companies, maintaining the tradition of bilateral cooperation.
Growth in the non-oil sector boosts exports, with diamonds, coffee, and fisheries seeing increases of over 50%. The Angolan government attributes this success to the EEZ's tax incentives, and diversification reduces vulnerability to oil fluctuations.
The fair generated $1.2 billion in business in 2024, representing 8% of the country's foreign direct investment. The construction and telecommunications sectors attracted 60% of the funds, with the 2025 edition expected to surpass these figures.
The increase in Angolan companies reflects the import substitution policy, with local production of cement and construction materials tripling since 2020. FILDA also serves as a showcase for "Made in Angola" products, the national quality seal that has certified 2023 national companies since 342.
Female participation at the event reaches 38% of exhibitors, exceeding the African average of 25% at trade shows. The Women Entrepreneurs Pavilion, an initiative supported by the UN Development Program, has doubled in size since 2022.
Conclusion
FILDA consolidates its transition to the Angola International Fair after four decades of history. The geographic and nominal change reflects the country's economic maturity and the event's geographic and strategic expansion. Maintaining the historic acronym preserves the legacy of 9.200 trade agreements.
The 2025 edition bears witness to the growth of the national production sector and regional integration. The predominance of Angolan exhibitors demonstrates the fruits of economic diversification, establishing Angola as the commercial hub par excellence in Southern Africa.
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Picture: © 2025 Government of Angola
