The Economic Renaissance Forum will kick off tomorrow morning, Sunday, in Cairo. The event is jointly organized by the Egyptian African Businessmen’s Association (EABA) and Nahda University, under the patronage and in the presence of the Ministers of Higher Education and Finance, the Chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, the Governor of Beni Suef, the Deputy Minister of Communications, along with a large number of businesspeople, academics, and decision-makers.
This edition of the forum aims to enhance trade and investment cooperation between Egypt and African countries, with the participation of representatives from over 30 African nations. It will also bring together an elite group of government officials, business leaders, diplomats, economic advisors, and trade attachés. The forum will discuss opportunities for Egyptian-African and intra-African regional partnerships, the role of governance and entrepreneurship in supporting sustainable development, and the importance of economic integration across the continent.
Several African ambassadors and diplomats will participate as speakers at the forum, including Ms. Adissa Gissou, Acting Charge d’Affaires of Burkina Faso; Ambassador Saadick Silah, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Cairo; Mr. Mohamed Ait Ali, Morocco’s Ambassador to Egypt; Ms. Alice Uwabiza, Deputy Head of Mission of Rwanda; and Mr. Omar Ntazimbera, Burundi’s Ambassador.
Dr. Yousrey El-Sharkawy, EABA Chairman, stated:
“The Economic Renaissance Forum serves as a unique platform for exchanging visions and ideas between Egypt and African countries to enhance economic and trade cooperation. Through this forum, we aim to strengthen relationships between the private sectors in Egypt and Africa, fostering strategic partnerships that contribute to continental economic integration and sustainable development for all.”
Dr. Al-Sharkawi emphasized Africa’s wealth of immense trade and investment opportunities, urging collaborative efforts between governments and the private sector to seize these opportunities. He added, “Through this forum, we are building bridges of cooperation among African nations and presenting a successful model of regional collaboration based on shared interests and a promising economic vision. At EABA, we believe that youth, entrepreneurship, and innovation are the keys to achieving significant economic growth in the continent. Thus, we are committed to providing a platform like the Economic Renaissance Forum to support these values and encourage fruitful collaboration between entrepreneurs and investors in Africa.”
Dr. Ahmed El-Khodrawy, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Nahda University, Forum Chair, and Chair of the Education, Training, and Scientific Research Committee at EABA, noted that the forum represents an effective platform for activating economic cooperation between Egypt and African countries. He highlighted that the forum offers exceptional opportunities for exchanging visions and expertise among government leaders and business figures from various nations.
Dr. El-Khodrawy further explained that the forum focuses on stimulating investments in critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of promoting African economic integration through strategic partnerships that drive sustainable development and boost trade growth among participating countries.
The forum will also host a distinguished lineup of speakers and attendees from the economic and industrial sectors, including MP Mohamed Mostafa El-Sallab, Chair of Mostafa El-Sallab Group for Trade and Industry and Chair of the Industry Committee in the Egyptian Parliament; Dr. Samir Sabry, Rapporteur of the Private Investment Committee in the National Dialogue; Engineer Ghada Mustafa Labib, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Institutional Development; Ambassador Ashraf Rashid, Chair of the National Committee for the African Peer Review Mechanism in Egypt; and Professor Dr. Hassan El-Sady, an economic expert.
The forum underscores the significance of enhancing Egyptian-African relations across all levels, emphasizing that economic cooperation is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development in the continent. It is expected that the forum will open new horizons for economic and trade partnerships, supporting the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthening Egypt’s position as a strategic partner in African development.