Dr George Elombi, president and chairman of Afreximbank, said the meeting comes at a pivotal moment for the continent’s economic trajectory.
Image: Supplied
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that it will host its 33rd Annual Meetings in El Alamein from 21 to 24 June 2026, bringing together African leaders and global stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics.
The meetings, branded AAM2026, will take place under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”, reflecting a growing emphasis on strengthening regional value chains and reducing the continent’s dependence on external markets.
Set against a backdrop of global realignment and economic fragmentation, the gathering is expected to attract heads of state, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
Dr George Elombi, president and chairman of Afreximbank, said the meeting comes at a pivotal moment for the continent’s economic trajectory.
“For the past decade, Afreximbank has laid a solid foundation for intra-African trade to take off. As we enter this new phase, we must prioritise the processing of goods to be traded under the Free Trade Agreement,” Elombi said.
He stressed that global instability and policy uncertainty are reinforcing the need for African economies to become more self-reliant and less dependent on commodity exports.
“With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges,” Elombi said.
“We must wean ourselves off trade in commodities, expand investment in processing, build regional value chains, and consume our products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want.”
The annual meetings are expected to serve as a platform for advancing concrete projects and partnerships aimed at transforming Africa’s trade structure. The bank said discussions will focus on identifying bankable opportunities, enhancing trade finance mechanisms and unlocking investment across key sectors.
Hassan Abdalla, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, welcomed the decision to host the event in Egypt, highlighting the country’s strategic role in regional integration.
“As the host country of Afreximbank, Egypt is honoured to welcome distinguished delegates to attend the Bank’s 33rd Annual Meetings,” Abdalla said.
“At a time of increasing global uncertainty and shifting economic dynamics, Egypt’s strategic location and economic scale position it as a key driver of regional integration and advancing continental priorities.”
He added that hosting the meetings in El Alamein reflects Egypt’s commitment to supporting African institutions and advancing industrialisation and long-term economic transformation.
Beyond high-level dialogue, AAM2026 is expected to provide a networking and deal-making platform for participants, enabling engagement across the value chain and facilitating access to capital and investment opportunities.
Afreximbank said the event will also play a key role in supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent.
Over the past three decades, the Cairo-based institution has positioned itself as a central player in financing and promoting intra-African trade, including through initiatives such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System and a $10 billion adjustment fund designed to support countries participating in the AfCFTA.
By convening a broad coalition of stakeholders, the 2026 annual meetings are expected to contribute to shaping a more integrated, industrialised and resilient African economy, with a stronger focus on internal growth drivers and shared prosperity.
BUSINESS REPORT