President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in New Alamein, Egypt, to participate in the eighth African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit and the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum.
The three-day gathering, taking place from October 2 to 4, brings together African leaders, government officials, business executives, investors and financial institutions to discuss economic integration, investment and sustainable development across the continent.
Mahama to Address Investment in Africa’s Health Sector
President Mahama is scheduled to speak at a plenary session focused on “Investing in Health: Manufacturing and Regional Value Chains.”
The session will examine opportunities to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manufacture healthcare-related products and develop regional supply chains.
The focus is particularly relevant to ongoing continental discussions about expanding local pharmaceutical and health-product manufacturing. President Mahama has previously advocated for greater African capacity to produce medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other health technologies locally.
Alamein Africa Forum Brings Business and Government Together
The inaugural Alamein Africa Forum is designed as a permanent biennial African business forum. Its programme covers issues including trade and integration, infrastructure, energy, food security, digital transformation, health investment and regional value chains.
The official programme lists Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for the opening address, followed by a keynote from Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.
The forum is being convened with the involvement of the Egyptian government, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the African Union and AUDA-NEPAD.
AU Heads of State Summit
The African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit will bring together African heads of state and government to discuss continental integration and development.
Egypt’s government says the summit will also address issues including implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, development financing, infrastructure, food security and the relationship between peace, security and development.
President Mahama is also expected to hold bilateral engagements during his visit, including discussions with President el-Sisi, according to reporting on his programme.
Why the Meeting Matters
The events provide a platform for African governments, businesses and financial institutions to discuss how investment can be mobilised for continental development.
For Ghana, President Mahama’s participation places the country in discussions around health manufacturing, regional value chains, investment and African economic integration.
The Alamein Forum’s programme also includes mechanisms for tracking commitments and recommendations emerging from the discussions, with health manufacturing and investment among the areas receiving attention.
