In a virtual meeting, Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, chaired the 42nd Session of the NEPAD Heads of State & Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), gathering member states to discuss Africa’s path toward a sustainable and inclusive future. The meeting highlighted critical developments surrounding the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) for 2024, with a particular focus on advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s blueprint for transformation.
The discussions centered on the progress of key initiatives, including the feasibility study for an African Investment Fund, which aims to foster greater investment across the continent. The meeting also delved into the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063, emphasizing Africa’s goals to address pressing challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and food, water, and energy insecurity. By focusing on infrastructure development, improved healthcare, better education systems, and youth employment, the summit reinforced the continent’s commitment to creating a sustainable future and enhancing intra-African trade and cooperation.
The 42nd NEPAD Heads of State & Government Orientation Committee meeting, therefore, not only underscored the progress on Africa’s development agenda but also highlighted how international partnerships, including those with Russia, are helping to shape the continent’s future.
In a separate development, Russia has taken a significant step toward bolstering its economic footprint in Africa. The country has officially moved forward with the establishment of an industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) in Egypt. Presidential Decree no. 184 of 2024, published on Monday, amended key provisions of an agreement originally approved by the Egyptian House of Representatives in 2015, further solidifying the ties between Russia and Egypt.
