Over three days, El Alamein New City transformed into a major platform for African dialogue and collaboration, hosting a series of summits, meetings, and events that brought together numerous African leaders, officials, and business representatives. This gathering reflects Egypt's ongoing commitment to African affairs and its drive to enhance integration among continental nations. The events included the El Alamein – Africa Business Forum, which saw significant participation from African leaders, business officials, and economic institutions.
The El Alamein – Africa Business Forum, inaugurated by President el-Sisi, served as a strategic platform to discuss investment opportunities, trade, and partnerships between Egypt and African nations. The forum coincided with a summit of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) founding states, which el-Sisi co-chaired with Angolan President João Lourenço. The summit focused on the agency's role in supporting development, infrastructure, and economic integration projects across the continent.
The AUDA-NEPAD summit holds particular significance given the agency's pivotal role in driving development and infrastructure projects in Africa. The meeting provided an opportunity for member states to exchange views on development priorities, challenges, and mechanisms to support continental projects. President el-Sisi emphasized the need for Africa to rely more on its own resources and adopt African-led financing mechanisms to drive genuine development.
On the sidelines of the events, President el-Sisi engaged in several bilateral and multilateral meetings with African leaders and officials to discuss enhancing African cooperation and advancing development and integration efforts. Egypt's vision, as articulated by el-Sisi, seeks to expand cooperation with African nations, support collective action within the African Union, and promote investment and integration opportunities across the continent.
During the meetings, President el-Sisi reiterated Egypt's stance on the importance of respecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in internal affairs. He emphasized that economic development cannot be achieved in unstable environments and that security begins with supporting national institutions and promoting peaceful solutions to conflicts.
The African leaders also discussed ways to address common challenges, including geopolitical tensions, conflicts, terrorism, and organized crime. President el-Sisi called for enhanced coordination and integration of African capacities to tackle these issues, stressing that the continent's future must be shaped through collective efforts. He also advocated for the full activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to bolster economic integration.
Key outcomes from the meetings included the launch of a continental facility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and value chains, as well as the establishment of the El Alamein Investment Platform by the African Union summit in February 2027. President el-Sisi invited international companies to contribute to Africa's development by transferring technology, investing in infrastructure projects, and creating opportunities for the continent's youthful and ambitious population.
Key points
- The El Alamein gatherings showcased Egypt's leadership in promoting African integration and development.
- President el-Sisi emphasized the need for African-led solutions to drive continental development.
- The meetings resulted in significant agreements, including the launch of a continental facility for SMEs and the El Alamein Investment Platform.
