The African Chambers of Commerce and Industry has elected Ahmed El-Wakil as its president and Dr. Alaa Ezz as secretary-general by consensus. The election took place during a meeting of the union's council in the Egyptian city of New El Alamein, attended by Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Dr. Mohamed Farid Salah, and leaders of various African chambers of commerce. The consensus vote reflects the members' confidence in El-Wakil's leadership.
The election was held on the sidelines of the African Summit and the El Alamein Africa Conference. The new leadership aims to enhance the role of the private sector in driving African economic integration and converting the continent's resources and opportunities into tangible trade, investments, and projects. El-Wakil emphasized his priority to maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area for the business community.
Ahmed El-Wakil expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him and vowed to continue working to promote the role of the private sector in leading African economic integration. He highlighted the importance of removing obstacles to trade and investment, connecting producers and exporters to markets, and encouraging cross-border partnerships. El-Wakil also stressed the need to build integrated African value chains and supply chains.
The meeting was attended by several Egyptian business leaders, including Amr Abu El-Eyon, head of the Asyut Chamber of Commerce, and Ayman El- Ashry, head of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce. The African Chambers of Commerce aims to create a unified platform for the African business community to drive economic growth and development. El-Wakil's leadership will focus on promoting trade and investment opportunities within the continent.
Dr. Alaa Ezz, the newly elected secretary-general, outlined the union's strategic plan to translate its goals into practical programs and initiatives that serve the business community. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with member chambers and international partners to enhance connections between business communities and open new markets for African products and services.
The African Chambers of Commerce council highlighted the need for intensified collaboration to enhance the role of chambers in connecting the private sector to trade and investment opportunities. This aims to increase intra-African trade and investments, ultimately converting African economic integration into tangible projects, jobs, and development within the continent.
The newly elected leadership of the African Chambers of Commerce is expected to play a crucial role in promoting African economic integration and driving growth through trade and investment. The union's efforts will focus on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from economic integration opportunities and promoting partnerships between governments, the private sector, and development institutions.
Key points
- Ahmed El-Wakil elected as president of African Chambers of Commerce
- Dr. Alaa Ezz elected as secretary-general of African Chambers of Commerce
- African Chambers of Commerce aims to promote intra-African trade and investments
