Egypt's hosting of Africa 2016 sends key messages

Hosting the Business for Africa, Egypt and the World forum in Egypt sent a message that Africa has been actually at the top of its agenda, former assistant foreign minister for African affairs Mohamed Hegazi has said.

In statements to MENA on Saturday, Hegazi said African economies can establish regional blocs capable of capitalizing on the continent resources.

According to the World Bank, the Gross Domestic Product of Africa – which has 300 million population in 54 states – stands at 2 trillion dollars annually and the growth rate at 5.4 percent, he said.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi stressed during the forum's inauguration on the importance of realizing regional integration for developing the continent's economies, Hegazi said.

He cited Egypt's regional projects which served the continent such as the logistic zone of the Suez Canal axis project

He added that the forum offers an opportunity for conferring on the inter-African vision on the continent's ambitions and investment opportunities.

He said the forum sent a message that Africa is not a continent of conflicts, it is however the continent of the future.

The forum also offers an opportunity for the conferees to tackle bilateral issues as well as the Ethiopian dam issue.

He added that the Sharm El Sheikh hosting of such event sends a message that the city is ready to restore its position as a tourist hub.

Tourism in the Red Sea resort city sustained a sharp blow after the Russian plane crash there last year.

Source: MENA