The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is set to host its 33rd Annual Meetings in El Alamein from 21 to 24 June 2026, under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”. This meeting comes at a crucial time for the continent’s economic trajectory, as global instability and policy uncertainty are reinforcing the need for African economies to become more self-reliant and less dependent on commodity exports.
According to Dr George Elombi, president and chairman of Afreximbank, the meeting will 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. As the African Export-Import Bank continues to play a vital role in promoting African trade, the meetings are expected to attract heads of state, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
African Economic Sovereignty: A New Era
With the current global turmoil, marked by policy uncertainty and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Africans must look inwards for solutions relevant to their challenges. As Dr Elombi stressed, “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.” This shift in focus is expected to have a significant impact on the continent’s economic landscape, with UNECA estimating that intra-African trade could increase by up to 50% by 2025.
Key Priorities for African Economic Sovereignty
Some of the key priorities for African economic sovereignty include:
- Promoting intra-African trade and industrialisation
- Enhancing trade finance mechanisms and unlocking investment
- Building regional value chains and reducing dependence on external markets
- Expanding investment in processing and consuming local products
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.
