The Africa El-Alamein Forum kicked off in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein on October 2, 2026, with high-level participation from leaders, ministers, senior officials, business leaders, and representatives of financial and investment institutions. The event is co-organized and sponsored by the African Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Professions, the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce, and several Egyptian chambers of commerce.
The three-day forum aims to bring together policymakers, top business leaders, investors, and development finance institutions to promote African economic integration and turn cooperation opportunities into actionable investments and partnerships. Egypt's strategic location, infrastructure, ports, transportation networks, and industrial base make it a prime gateway for trade and investment in Africa.
Ahmed El-Wakil, head of the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce and the African Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that Egypt is well-positioned to serve as a hub for African trade and investment. He highlighted the importance of leveraging Egypt's strengths to develop industries, deepen value chains, and increase intra-African trade.
El-Wakil stressed that the private sector must be a key partner in implementing the African economic integration agenda. He noted that the current phase requires transitioning from agreements and identifying opportunities to actual projects, deals, and investments, while connecting the business community with governments, financing institutions, and markets.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a historic opportunity to boost trade and investment within the continent by removing barriers to the movement of goods and services, developing logistics, and providing financing mechanisms to support private sector expansion and joint investments.
The forum features high-level participation from African chamber leaders, including El-Wakil and Dr. Alaa Azz, Secretary-General of the African Chamber of Commerce. Several Egyptian chamber leaders also attended, such as Amr Abu Ayoub, head of the Asyut Chamber of Commerce, and Mohamed Saada, head of the Port Said Chamber of Commerce.
The Africa El-Alamein Forum provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss ways to promote economic integration, enhance trade and investment, and address development challenges in Africa. The event aims to facilitate partnerships and collaborations that can drive sustainable growth and development across the continent.
Key points
- Egypt's strategic location and infrastructure make it a prime gateway for trade and investment in Africa.
- The private sector must be a key partner in implementing the African economic integration agenda.
- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a historic opportunity to boost trade and investment within the continent.
