The inaugural Alamein Africa Forum is set to take place from October 2-4 in the historic city of Alamein on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. The event will run in parallel with the 2026 African Union mid-year summit. The forum was established in response to a mandate from the African Union, which called for a permanent African Business Forum to convene biennially in Egypt. This gathering aims to bring together key political and business leaders from across the continent.
The Alamein Africa Forum is expected to attract high-profile attendees, including Heads of State and official delegations. Confirmed attendees include the Presidents of Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Libya, Senegal, Somalia, and South Africa. President Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, will also be in attendance as the host of this year's AU Mid-Year Summit. The forum will provide a unique opportunity for these leaders to engage with business and finance sectors.
Business leaders from across the continent have confirmed their participation in the Alamein Africa Forum. Notable attendees include Ralph Mupita from MTN, Idrissa Nassa from Coris Bank, and Mohamed El Ketani from Attijariwafa Bank. Other prominent business leaders, such as Hichem Eloumi from Groupe Shakira and Wale Tinubu from Oando, will also be in attendance. Aliko Dangote, Africa's biggest industrialist, is expected to attend and potentially help establish a Business Advisory Council.
The Alamein Africa Forum aims to bridge the gap between established engines of African growth and new sectors defining its future. The event will provide a platform for leaders in politics, business, and policy to shape Africa's growth agenda. This will be achieved by aligning policy and investment priorities, mobilizing partnerships for implementation, and strengthening financing and investment pathways. The private sector is expected to play a crucial role in Agenda 2063, the AU's strategic 50-year masterplan.
The forum is a collaborative effort between the Government of Egypt, Afreximbank, the African Union, and AUDA-NEPAD. This unprecedented alliance of public and private sector leadership brings together Africa's most influential decision-makers. The event is expected to promote intra-African trade and investment, connecting the business community and financial institutions with priority projects and investment opportunities in the continent.
Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Expatriates Abroad, emphasized the importance of the summit at a joint press conference. He described the Alamein Africa Forum as a pan-African platform that will strengthen direct links between companies and markets and decision-making at the highest level. The forum reflects Egypt's commitment to advancing continental economic cooperation.
Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, also highlighted the significance of the Alamein Africa Forum. He described it as a pan-African platform for promoting intra-African trade and investment. The event will provide a unique opportunity for the business community and financial institutions to engage with priority projects and investment opportunities in the continent.
Key points
- The Alamein Africa Forum will bring together Heads of State and business leaders to shape Africa's growth agenda.
- The event aims to promote intra-African trade and investment, connecting the business community and financial institutions with priority projects and investment opportunities.
- The forum is a collaborative effort between the Government of Egypt, Afreximbank, the African Union, and AUDA-NEPAD.
