Today, at the headquarters of the main hall of the Fayoum University Library, an expanded symposium under the title “Undiscovered Africa” was launched in the presence of Dr. Yousrey ElSharkawi, chairman of the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, Dr. Yasser Hatata, President of the University, Dr. Mohamed Abul-Ghar, Vice President of the University, and Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Fattah, Dean of the Research Institute for Strategic Studies for the Nile Basin Countries, Dr. Adly Saadawi, member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Mohamed Fayez Farhat, Director of Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies.
The events of the symposium “Undiscovered Africa” organized by the Institute of Research and Strategic Studies for the Nile Basin Countries at Fayoum University in cooperation with the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association came. It was very productive and provided a constructive societal dialogue. The symposium discussed modern mechanisms of joint African action and the importance of this to enhance fruitful cooperation. And the Egyptian-African relations and popular rapprochement and the role of this in reaching the new Africa.
Dr. Yousrey ElSharkawi pointed to the role of the private sector as the main axis in strengthening cooperation with the countries of the African continent, highlighting the role of civil society organizations, referring to the goal of establishing the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association; To do this role and to address businessmen, businesswomen, and entrepreneurs in the African continent, in line with the modern system and the successive developments of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Fifth Generation of the Information Revolution, and work to modernize the business community and change their mental image of Africa and the unintended mistakes that affected Egyptian-African relations and dealings With the other in the logic of dialogue and what it represents for the other.
El-Sharkawi stressed the need to spread the culture of localizing the Egyptian product to prevail in African markets under the slogan “Made in Egypt.” In addition to the importance of setting a vision to export the products of the private sector to the heart of African markets, along with the products of major national companies, so we will not depend on the state to open markets, However, the Egyptian investor must go to African markets to create demand for the Egyptian product. Introducing exporters to the characteristics of the African economy, in which there are male and female entrepreneurs, to communicate with them, exchange Egyptian-African experiences, and activate committees for investment, industry and scientific research to promote sustainable cooperation.
He stressed the need to activate the role of the private sector and investments directed towards the African continent and to organize educational trips for university students to visit and get to know Africa. He stressed the political will to overcome difficulties and the role of civil society. And the will of peoples to cooperate and exchange experiences.
at the end of his speech, El-Sharkawi indicated that the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association has 15 offices within the African continent and established 47 webinars last year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the participation of African experts and businessmen to spread awareness among the Egyptian citizen of investment opportunities in the African continent and contribute to setting a vision for the future of the African continent.