New Alamein:The first edition of the Alamein Africa Business Forum has commenced, marking a significant step in Egypt's efforts to establish itself as a pivotal link between African markets. The event seeks to bolster the continent's global economic presence by leveraging Egypt's strategic location, ongoing infrastructure developments in transport and energy, and an improving investment climate.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the forum, which began on Saturday, gathers around 1,500 participants, including heads of state, government officials, and leaders from both the public and private sectors. Business and financial leaders, investors, and international financial institutions are also in attendance to explore trade and investment opportunities. The forum aims to foster partnerships between Egyptian and African companies to enhance trade and promote economic integration across Africa.
The event underscores a drive to move beyond discussions and toward tangible cross-border partnerships, projects, and investments that align political ambitions with Africa's economic development goals. This is particularly crucial as African economies face challenges from global economic shifts, such as the energy crisis and disruptions to supply chains, which necessitate stronger regional cooperation.
The forum also reinforces the economic message of the African Union's Agenda 2063, emphasizing the need for real projects and investments spearheaded by companies and investors. Key areas of focus include empowering the private sector, providing financing, and improving access to market information to transform integration opportunities into sustainable partnerships.
Economic projections from the African Development Bank suggest a positive outlook for African growth, with forecasts indicating an acceleration from 3.3% in 2024 to 4.0% by 2026. Meanwhile, Egypt's trade with African Union countries reached approximately $9.6 billion in 2025, with Egyptian exports accounting for $7.6 billion, illustrating a continued strong presence in key African markets and laying the groundwork for expanding intra-African trade.