The first edition of the Africa-El Alamein Forum is set to take place in Egypt from October 2-4, 2026, and will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, investors, and private sector representatives to discuss Africa's economic development and integration. Algeria aims to showcase its economic ambitions on the continent, with a focus on intra-African trade, investments, infrastructure, and regional integration. The forum will address key issues such as developing intra-African trade, facilitating cross-border investments, and supporting large-scale projects.
Algeria is looking to leverage its industrial, energy, and logistical capabilities to increase its exchanges with other African economies. The country has several strengths, including hydrocarbons, electricity, infrastructure, manufacturing industries, and services, which it seeks to further valorize in African markets. Algeria also aims to strengthen its land and commercial connections with neighboring countries and develop its role as a platform between North Africa and the rest of the continent.
The Africa-El Alamein Forum is part of Egypt's efforts to make Alamein a sustainable platform for dialogue between governments, businesses, investors, and African financial institutions. The forum will run parallel to several African meetings, including the summit of the founding states of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union. The goal is to strengthen economic integration, trade, and investment, as well as support development projects and intra-African exchanges.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a key framework for the forum, aiming to gradually reduce trade barriers between African countries and promote the creation of regional value chains. Improving transport infrastructure, commercial corridors, and energy networks is also a major challenge. The development of these infrastructures is seen as essential to reducing logistics costs and bringing African markets closer together.
Several African countries are seeking to increase local processing of their resources and reduce their dependence on extra-African imports. For economies with industrial or energy capabilities, this trend can open up new opportunities. Algeria's strategy is being implemented at a time when several African countries are looking to strengthen their economic ties and attract more capital.
The multiplication of continental economic initiatives reflects an evolution in national strategies. African countries are seeking to develop their mutual exchanges, attract more capital, and strengthen local production capacities. In this context, Algeria wants to consolidate its positions in Africa by relying on its infrastructure, energy potential, and industrial apparatus.
The Africa-El Alamein Forum will provide an opportunity to measure the economic ambitions of different African actors and their ability to make concrete progress in integrating continental markets. The challenge for Algeria will be to transform its institutional presence into commercial contracts, investments, and joint projects.
Key points
- Algeria aims to showcase its economic ambitions in Africa at the Africa-El Alamein Forum.
- The forum will focus on intra-African trade, investments, infrastructure, and regional integration.
- Algeria seeks to leverage its industrial, energy, and logistical capabilities to increase its exchanges with other African economies.
