Egypt and Afreximbank outline plans for biennial Alamein Africa forum

Egypt's foreign minister and Afreximbank's chair announced the Alamein Africa forum, scheduled for October, as a fixed platform for African economic cooperation.

• Badr Abdelatty received Afreximbank chair George Elombi on Thursday as part of preparations for the Alamein Africa business forum, to be held in October.
• Abdelatty said the forum will convene every two years, serving as a standing African platform for the private sector and investment institutions.
• Elombi said Africa needs a larger private-sector role and expansion of industrialization to strengthen ties among its countries.
• Abdelatty said Egypt holds investments across Africa worth up to $14 billion, citing the Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania as an example of African cooperation.
• The forum will run within a cluster of African events in El Alamein from October 2-4, alongside the AU mid-year coordination summit and a NEPAD founding summit.
• Abdelatty said President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will take part in the forum alongside other African leaders.
• Abdelatty said the forum will serve as an occasion to announce several deals on its sidelines.
• The forum is scheduled for October 3-4 and aims to double intra-African trade, empower the private sector, and develop port and logistics links.
• Abdelatty said priority areas include renewable energy, manufacturing (especially autos and pharmaceuticals), and infrastructure.
• Leaders are also discussing debt, concessional financing, green and digital transitions, and the link between security and development in Africa's conflicts.