President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Durban, South Africa, from Paris on Saturday as part of his ongoing socio-economic diplomatic missions.

The president is in Durban at the special invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, to attend the inauguration of the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 on Monday.

The fair, with the theme “Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA,” aims at boosting trade and investment across the African continent, the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said.

“Global businesses, including non-African international brands, are expected to key into opportunities generated by the fair, thereby attracting to continental trade investment deals worth $40 billion,” the president’s media aide said.

Mr Adesina stressed that the event would also seek to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive across the continent.

The event is expected to generate market information needed to connect buyers and sellers throughout the continent.

The president was earlier in Paris on November 9 on an official visit as a guest of President Emmanuel Macron at Palais de l’Élysée.

He also attended the three-day Paris Peace Forum (PPF) from November 11 to 13.

Mr Buhari and his French counterpart discussed issues of mutual interest for both countries.

The discussions focused particularly on strengthening economic ties, improving partnership on security, and working jointly on education, health and halting the threats of Covid-19 to the global economy.

While in Paris, the president also attended the Nigeria International Partnership Forum (NIPF).

The forum brought together the Nigerian and French governments, as well as their private sectors.

The president also met with the president of Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Mohammed Al-Jasser, and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs of United Arab Emirate, Sheikh Shakboot Alnahyan in Paris

He also attended the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris on Friday.

The president said Nigeria remains proud of its close association with the organisation since its establishment 75 years ago.

The president is expected back in Nigeria on November 16.