On behalf of the Head of State, Thani Al-Zeyoudi participates in the 2026 African CEOs Forum in Rwanda

3 weeks ago

2 minutes read

KIGALI – Rwanda, 16 May / WAM / On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, participated in the African CEO Forum 2026, held in the Rwandan capital Kigali, at the head of an Emirati delegation that included government officials and representatives of the business community in the country.

The African CEO Forum is an annual gathering of country leaders, senior business leaders, investors and decision-makers in Africa. The current session, which was held on May 14 and 15, attracted more than 2,800 participants from all over the world to discuss economic development in the African continent.

It is noteworthy that the value of the UAE’s intra-oil non-oil trade with the African continent amounted to more than $160.4 billion in 2025, achieving a growth of 43.6% compared to 2024, and nearly double its value recorded in 2023.

The UAE has also become the largest source of new foreign direct investments in the continent, with investments exceeding $110 billion across the continent since 2019.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, in his speech before the forum, stressed the UAE’s firm commitment to stimulating sustainable economic growth in Africa and contributing to achieving sustainable development goals through international cooperation and partnerships based on mutual interests.

His Excellency said: Africa has promising ingredients and potential, and the countries of the continent represent a major focus in the UAE’s plans to expand trade and investment partnerships as part of its strategy for greater openness to the world to stimulate global growth.

His Excellency added: Through the UAE’s contribution, through many existing projects in African countries, in supporting the development of the continent’s logistical capabilities, infrastructure, digital and manufacturing sector, sustainable economic prosperity can be achieved that benefits both parties, while ensuring the ability of African companies and exporters to access global markets. Cooperation between governments is an important factor in facilitating partnerships within the private sector that can advance innovation, exchange knowledge and expertise, and develop talent over the coming decades.

On the sidelines of the forum, His Excellency Al-Zeyoudi held a series of bilateral meetings with a group of ministers, CEOs of international institutions and organizations, business leaders, and CEOs of major companies, most notably with His Excellency Prudence Sibahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda, His Excellency Ndaba Gawlathe, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana and Minister of Finance, and His Excellency Dr. Jmoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in Nigeria.

During the visit, His Excellency also participated in a strategic dialogue session with the most prominent business leaders in Africa, on the mechanisms for setting the continent’s development goals, especially its ambitions to rebalance its foreign trade with the rest of the world.

On the sidelines of the forum, DP World organized a special event on Africa’s role in global supply chains, during which His Excellency Dr. Al Zeyoudi presented the UAE’s continuing efforts to participate in expanding ports, producing renewable energy, and developing free zones in a number of African countries.

The comprehensive economic partnership agreements that the UAE recently completed with Mauritius, Angola, Kenya, the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and Nigeria embody the UAE’s vision to achieve greater economic integration with African countries, enable Emirati companies to access high-growth markets and facilitate strategic investments that contribute to the development of the continent.