On behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Governor Hassan Abdalla participated in the official opening of the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) 32nd Annual Meetings, held recently in Abuja, Nigeria. The 2025 meetings were convened under the theme “Owning Our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on the Platform of Resilience,” and brought together African heads of state, central bank governors, senior officials, financial leaders, and investors from across the continent.
In his remarks, Abdalla affirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Africa’s comprehensive development agenda and strengthening the role of regional institutions in addressing economic challenges. He underscored the pivotal role Afreximbank plays in advancing trade and economic integration across the continent, and reiterated Egypt’s ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with regional and international financial bodies to promote sustainable development and economic cohesion.
On the sidelines of the event, Abdalla held bilateral talks with Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema and George Elombi, recently elected as the new president of Afreximbank, succeeding Benedict Oramah. Abdalla congratulated Elombi on his appointment and extended appreciation to Oramah for his leadership and contributions during his decade-long tenure, which concludes in September.
Abdalla also paid an official visit to the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he was received by Governor Olayemi Cardoso. The two officials discussed avenues for enhancing institutional collaboration in areas such as financial stability, digital innovation, fintech development, and cross-border financial initiatives.
The Afreximbank meetings addressed a broad spectrum of issues relevant to African economies, including economic transformation, institutional resilience, healthcare investment, and innovative financing models. The sessions also explored strengthening ties between Africa and the Caribbean, and reviewed the bank’s performance in the 2024 fiscal year.
Discussions highlighted Afreximbank’s expanding role in supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), fostering stronger partnerships among African governments, financial institutions, and investors, and introducing new mechanisms to enhance intra-African trade and economic integration.
Notably, the Central Bank of Egypt remains the largest shareholder in Afreximbank, which was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Cairo. The bank’s mission is to boost intra-African trade and increase Africa’s share in global commerce by financing trade, supporting industrial development, and promoting exports across the continent.
