Dubai Chambers Enhances Global Trade Ties At Africa CEO Forum, Rwanda

Dubai Chambers recently participated in the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, attracting over 2,500 attendees, including African presidents, government officials, and CEOs of major companies. The delegation was led by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, who engaged in an interactive panel discussion.

Dubai Chambers organised a side event to showcase Dubai’s competitive advantages. The session highlighted services available to African companies aiming to expand into global markets through Dubai and the support provided to strengthen trade and investment ties with Dubai-based companies.

The Dubai Chambers delegation held several bilateral meetings with African government delegations, multinational companies, and major institutions. These discussions explored strategies to enhance bilateral cooperation and achieve mutual goals.

During the panel discussion titled ‘Decisive Decade for Intra-African Trade: Can the AfCFTA Deliver?’, Lootah emphasised Dubai’s role in strengthening trade ties between Africa and the world. He highlighted the contribution of representative offices operated by Dubai International Chamber in consolidating partnerships between Dubai’s private sector and the African business community.

Dubai International Chamber currently operates seven representative offices across Africa, the highest number of international offices in any region globally. This reflects growing interest in African markets and the continent’s position as a vital strategic trade and investment partner for Dubai’s private sector.

African markets accounted for 13.3 percent of Dubai’s total non-oil trade with the world in 2023, up from 8.9 percent in 2014. Dubai’s non-oil trade with Africa is expected to grow further, driven by several key factors, most notably the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Forum Highlights

Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, opened the 11th edition of the forum, organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group in collaboration with the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). Recognised as one of the largest business forums dedicated to Africa, the event addressed topics including investment, climate, information technology, economic integration, infrastructure, trade, and artificial intelligence.

With inputs from WAM