Egypt’s El-Sisi opens first Alamein Africa Business Forum
In short
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the first edition of the Alamein Africa Business Forum in New Alamein on 3 October, with African leaders, officials, business representatives and African and international economic institutions taking part. El-Sisi said the forum is a continental platform to mobilise efforts towards Agenda 2063 and to give the African business community direct access to heads of state. Egypt is hosting the inaugural edition, mandated by the African Union Assembly at its February 2026 summit, alongside the 8th Mid‑Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in El‑Alamein.
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the first edition of the Alamein Africa Business Forum in New Alamein on 3 October, according to WAM, the Emirates News Agency. The forum brings together African leaders and officials as well as representatives of the business community and African and international economic institutions, Forbes Middle East reported ahead of the opening. [ 1 , 2 ]
In his opening-session remarks, El-Sisi described the forum as a strategic continental platform aimed at mobilising efforts towards the objectives of Agenda 2063, “turning the aspirations of joint African action into tangible reality”, and offering a unique avenue for the African business community to engage directly with heads of state. He said it creates a space to address the challenges facing the private sector and to forge cross-border partnerships that drive economic integration. [ 2 ]
El-Sisi added that he looks forward to an “impactful exchange of visions and solutions” in the panel sessions, and that the bilateral business meetings and the exhibition would forge further cross-border commercial partnerships, with special attention to the startups platform, which he called “the promising future of our African economies”. [ 2 ]
According to WAM, Egypt is hosting the inaugural edition under a mandate from the African Union Assembly at its summit in February 2026, in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Union. The forum is being held while the city of El-Alamein hosts the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, which WAM said reflects the link between political and economic action within joint African action. [ 2 ]
The documents differ on the event’s name, with Forbes Middle East referring to the “Alamein Africa Forum” and WAM to the “Alamein Africa Business Forum”. Neither document names other attending leaders or companies, gives participant figures, or reports any agreements reached. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The forum is presented as a meeting point between African political leadership and private business, and it coincides with the African Union’s Mid‑Year Coordination Meeting in the same city. Its stated purpose — cross‑border partnerships, addressing private-sector challenges and integrating economies — signals an attempt to link continental policy goals with commercial deals. Concrete outcomes are not yet described in the documents.
Key facts
- The first edition of the Alamein Africa Business Forum opened in New Alamein on 3 October 2026, inaugurated by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. [ 1 , 2 ]
- African leaders and officials, representatives of the business community and African and international economic institutions are taking part. [ 1 , 2 ]
- El-Sisi said the forum aims to mobilise efforts towards the objectives of Agenda 2063 and to turn joint African action into “tangible reality”. [ 2 ]
- El-Sisi said the forum creates space to address challenges facing the private sector and to forge cross‑border partnerships driving economic integration. [ 2 ]
- Egypt is hosting the first edition, mandated by the African Union Assembly at its summit in February 2026, in partnership with AUDA‑NEPAD, Afreximbank and the African Union. [ 2 ]
- The forum is being held while El‑Alamein hosts the 8th Mid‑Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union. [ 2 ]
- El-Sisi said he expects the panel sessions, bilateral business meetings, exhibition and startups platform to produce cross‑border commercial partnerships. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Alamein Africa Forum / Alamein Africa Business Forum is being held in New Alamein from 3 October, bringing together African leaders and officials, the business community and economic institutions. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated the forum. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The inaugural edition is held under an African Union Assembly mandate from the February 2026 summit, in partnership with AUDA‑NEPAD, Afreximbank and the African Union, and coincides with the African Union’s 8th Mid‑Year Coordination Meeting in El‑Alamein, according to WAM, the Emirates News Agency. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- The name of the event: Forbes Middle East calls it the “Alamein Africa Forum”, while WAM calls it the first edition of the “Alamein Africa Business Forum”. The two documents use different names for the same event, and the documents do not state which is official.
- Which heads of state, officials or companies attended, and how many participants. Neither document names individual attendees beyond the Egyptian president or gives participant numbers.
- Any agreements, deals or outcomes from the panel sessions, bilateral business meetings, exhibition or startups platform. The documents describe the forum’s aims and expectations, including El‑Sisi’s remarks that he looks forward to results, but report no results so far.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Forbes Middle East reports that El-Sisi will inaugurate the Alamein Africa Forum in New Alamein on 3 October, with African leaders, officials, business representatives and African and international economic institutions attending. [ 1 ]
- WAM reports that El-Sisi opened the first edition of the Alamein Africa Business Forum, quoting his opening-session remarks on Agenda 2063, private-sector challenges and cross‑border partnerships. [ 2 ]