The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will hold its 33rd Annual Meetings (AAM2026) in El Alamein, Egypt, amid growing calls for Africa to look inward for solutions to its economic challenges.
The annual meetings come against the backdrop of deepening geopolitical realignments and rising global conflicts, which have intensified calls for stronger regional economic cooperation.
The meetings will be held under the theme, Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty, underscoring the growing imperative for African countries to harness internal capacities, strengthen regional value chains and accelerate industrial transformation as a foundation for sustainable and resilient growth.
Scheduled for June 21 to 24, the meetings will bring together Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, academia and international partners from across Africa and beyond.
Through a series of strategic dialogues and engagements, Afreximbank aims to identify priority projects and actionable programmes that will help transform Africa’s trade structure, particularly at a time when the global economy is increasingly shaped by protectionism, shifting alliances and national economic self-interest.
Commenting on AAM2026, George Elombi, president and chairperson of the board of directors of Afreximbank, said the bank had over the past decade laid a solid foundation for intra-African trade to take off.
He said the next phase now requires prioritising the processing and value addition of goods traded under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges. We must wean ourselves off trade in commodities, expand investment in processing, build regional value chains and consume our own products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want,” Elombi said.
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Hassan Abdalla, governor of the Central Bank of Egypt, said Egypt’s hosting of the meetings reflects the country’s commitment to strengthening African institutions and advancing continental trade.
“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. Hosting the AAM2026 in El Alamein reflects Egypt’s continued commitment to supporting African institutions, strengthening intra-African trade and advancing the continent’s industrialisation and long-term economic transformation,” Abdalla said.
The AAM2026 will provide a platform for delegates to engage with high-level decision-makers, connect with partners across the value chain, gain insights into trade finance and logistics, and access capital to close investment deals.
The meetings will also help structure partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent, contributing to a shared vision of an integrated, industrialised and economically sovereign Africa.
