Egypt’s Central Bank Governor Hassan Abdalla and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) President Dr. George Elombi confirmed on May 13 in Cairo that Egypt will host the bank’s 33rd Annual Meetings in Alamein City from June 21 to 24, 2026, centering African trade sovereignty.
The meetings, designated AAM2026, will proceed under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and will convene in Alamein City. The event coincides with the African Union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Summit and the African Business Forum, making Egypt the focal point of continental economic dialogue for nearly a week.
More than 4,000 delegates from across Africa and beyond are expected to attend, with discussions centering on how intra-African trade can accelerate industrialisation and strengthen economic sovereignty amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The chosen theme, “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty,” is more than symbolic. Dr. Elombi outlined a core message that Africa must move beyond dependence on commodity exports and external systems by building domestic industrial capacity and retaining more value from its resources.
Egypt’s role in this agenda carries significant financial weight. Afreximbank has provided approximately US$9.5 billion in financing to Egypt over the past three years. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) remains Afreximbank’s largest shareholder and hosts the bank’s headquarters, cementing a relationship that stretches back to the institution’s founding.
Working with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the AU, Afreximbank has established a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA.
Among the broader institutional developments linked to the summit, the groundbreaking of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital took place in December 2025, with the US$250 million facility set to strengthen Egypt’s standing as a regional hub for trade facilitation, payments, logistics, and small and medium enterprise development.
The meetings also advance Afreximbank’s payments infrastructure push, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which enables instant cross-border transactions in local currencies across the continent.
Governor Abdalla captured Egypt’s position plainly: “Egypt is honoured to host the 33rd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Alamein, reflecting our continued commitment to supporting Africa’s economic integration, trade expansion, and sustainable development.”
At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, with shareholder funds amounting to US$7.2 billion.
