Afreximbank, Egypt advance plans for 2026 meetings in Alamein

Barbara Bako, Abuja

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Egyptian authorities have assured that preparations for the 33rd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2026) are on track ahead of the event scheduled to hold in Alamein from June 21 to 24, 2026.

The update was given at a joint press briefing held in Cairo at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt, bringing together senior officials including Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, George Elombi, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, Hassan Abdalla.

The 2026 meetings will be hosted under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

More than 100 journalists from across Africa and beyond attended the briefing, which highlighted Egypt’s readiness to host the event and the expected economic and investment impact of the meetings.

Abdalla said Egypt is proud to host the gathering, describing it as part of the country’s continued commitment to strengthening African economic integration, trade, and sustainable development.

He added that the meetings will provide an important platform for discussions on trade finance, regional cooperation, and reforms to the global financial system to better support emerging economies.

On his part, Elombi thanked the Egyptian authorities for their continued support and said the Annual Meetings remain a key platform for advancing Africa’s development agenda, especially in areas such as intra-African trade, industrialisation, and financial resilience.

He noted that Afreximbank has provided about $9.5 billion in financing to Egypt over the past three years across key sectors including infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and financial services.

He also highlighted the ongoing development of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, a $250 million project expected to strengthen Egypt’s role as a regional hub for trade and investment.

Elombi further pointed to plans for a proposed pan-African Gold Bank aimed at strengthening Africa’s gold value chain and boosting the continent’s financial independence.

The Annual Meetings are expected to attract Heads of State, central bank governors, ministers, investors, and private sector leaders, who will discuss key issues including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), infrastructure, energy, digital transformation, and trade finance.

The programme will feature policy sessions, investment forums, networking events, and deal-signing opportunities aimed at deepening investment flows and intra-African trade.