By Bassey Udo
The 33rd Annual Meetings of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) AAM2026) is scheduled for El Alamein in Egypt, between June 21 and 24, 2026.
Amid deepening geopolitical re-alignment and conflicts, the Bank said the theme of the meeting would be “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”.
The Bank said the theme underscores 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.
The meetings, the Bank said, would bring together Heads of State, government officials, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, academia and international partners from across Africa and beyond.
The meetings would feature a series of strategic dialogues and engagements aimed at identifying priority projects and actionable programmes to advance the transformation of Africa’s trade structure, particularly in an era shaped by protectionism, shifting alliances, and economic self-interest.
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, expressed appreciation to the Government of Egypt for accepting to host the 2026 Annual Meetings.
“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,” he said.
“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 products to realise the growth and shared prosperity we want,” he added.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), Mr. Hassan Abdalla, said that as the host country of Afreximbank, Egypt was honoured to welcome distinguished delegates to the Bank’s 33rd Annual Meetings.
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 industrialization and long-term economic transformation.
The AAM2026 will provide a unique 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 and close investment deals.
Also, the meetings would serve as a platform to structure partnerships and advance bankable projects across the continent.
By convening a diverse range of stakeholders, Afreximbank said the AAM2026 would contribute to advancing a shared vision of an integrated, industrialised, and economically sovereign continent.