Dubai Chambers showcases Dubai’s competitive advantages to 2,500 participants at Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda
Dubai Chambers successfully participated in the recently concluded Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. The forum, which attracted over 2,500 attendees including African presidents, government officials, and CEOs of major international and African companies, was a pivotal event for fostering business connections and exploring economic opportunities.
Leading the Dubai Chambers delegation was His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers. He took part in an interactive panel discussion and spearheaded various initiatives to showcase Dubai’s competitive advantages. During a specially organized event on the sidelines of the forum, the delegation highlighted services available to African companies seeking to expand into global markets through Dubai. They also outlined the support provided to African businesses to strengthen their trade and investment ties with companies in Dubai.
Throughout the forum, the Dubai Chambers delegation engaged in numerous bilateral meetings with African government delegations, multinational companies, and major African and international institutions. These discussions focused on strategies to enhance bilateral cooperation and achieve mutual goals.
In a panel discussion titled "Decisive Decade for Intra-African Trade: Can the AfCFTA Deliver?", Lootah emphasized Dubai's significant role in bolstering trade ties between Africa and the global market. He highlighted the contributions of the representative offices operated by Dubai International Chamber, a subsidiary of Dubai Chambers, in consolidating partnerships between Dubai's private sector and the African business community.
Dubai International Chamber currently operates seven representative offices across Africa, marking the highest number of international offices in any region for the chamber. This expansion reflects the growing interest in African markets and underscores the continent’s strategic importance as a trade and investment partner for Dubai.
In 2023, African markets accounted for 13.3% of Dubai’s total non-oil trade with the world, up from 8.9% in 2014. This upward trend in Dubai’s non-oil trade with Africa is expected to continue, driven by key factors such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The 11th edition of the Africa CEO Forum was inaugurated by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda. The event, organized by Jeune Afrique Media Group in collaboration with the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), is recognized as one of the largest business forums dedicated to Africa. It covered a wide range of topics including investment, climate, information technology, economic integration, infrastructure, trade, and artificial intelligence.
