Malawi Embassy in Cairo was among African Missions that participated the launch of inaugural FOCUS Africa Trade and Investment Forum from 15 to 16 April 2025 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Cairo, Egypt. The Mission was represented by Deputy Head Ambassador Dr Shoaib Mzoma.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation (MoPEDIC) of Egypt and the Group of African Ambassadors in Cairo, hosted the FOCUS Africa in order to address key investment challenges and unlock high-impact opportunities across multiple sectors, including agribusiness, technology, infrastructure, logistics, Energy, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and the blue economy.
The Forum brought together key policymakers, business leaders, and investors to explore strategies for increasing African direct investment (ADI) and foreign direct investment (FDI) while showcasing bankable projects capable of attracting regional and international capital. Despite attracting only 3% to 4% of global foreign direct investment (FDI), Africa can bridge the estimated $130 billion to $170 billion annual Infrastructure financing gap.
During plenary sessions, the Deputy Ambassador contributed the need for Malawi in attending such important forum as we get prepared for the September intra Africa Trade and Investment forum (AITF2025) in Algiers this September. Malawi Investment and Trade Centre is currently coordinating with participating stakeholders in preparations for the same.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said in his opening remarks: “Globalization, as we know it, is regrettably under life support. The African Continental Free Trade Area is the instrument that offers Africa the opportunity to look inwards within itself, as a source of growth and development. If we achieve a truly integrated market with a combined GDP of about USD3 trillion, a diverse ecosystem and variety of natural resources, we can create our own internal globalization and be in a position to integrate the African Diaspora and engage the rest of the world more meaningfully.”
In his remarks, H.E. Dr Mohamadou Labarang Dean of the African Ambassadors’ Group, commented, “The Ambassadors’ Group strongly believes that there is a crucial need to draw the attention of the business community in the Middle East — and particularly in Egypt — to the wealth of opportunities that are now available through the smart and sustained implementation of the AfCFTA.
Africa is changing. Across our regions, opportunities abound in agro-processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, and tourism. But these opportunities will remain dormant unless we galvanize the right investment partnerships — partnerships built not on aid or charity, but on mutual benefit, shared growth, and strategic vision. This aligns with President Lazarus Chakwera’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) Strategy. A Blueprint designed to attract investments and stimulate economic expansion.
FOCUS Africa is a testament to a shared vision of harnessing Africa’s immense
Potential and driving sustainable growth through strategic partnerships and innovative financial solutions tailored to the continent’s needs as reflected in the Malawi 2063 agenda.
