Ashraf AboArafe
Hoda Yassa: Holding a conference and exhibition for Egyptian and Arab products in Russia next year
The Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences (EGAEC) affiliated to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, headed by Major General Sherif El-Mawardi, signed a protocol with the Arab Women Investors Union (WIU), headed by Dr. Hoda Galal Yassa, for joint cooperation in support of the Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Summit organized by the Union during the period from November 11 to 15, 2024, in Aswan Governorate.
This came during a preparatory press conference, before the Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Summit in Aswan, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, at the headquarters of the Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences affiliated to the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.
With the participation of local, Arab and international media,
In the presence of representatives of ministries and religious figures from Al-Azhar, Sheikh Osama Al-Hadbadi, Director General of the Electronic Fatwa of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and the representative of the Governor of Aswan, Dina Ibrahim, and Magdy Abdel Karim, representative of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Representative Dr. Talaat Abdel Qawi, Head of the General Union of Civil Society Associations and Institutions, Arab and African embassies and friendly countries, including Elena Matyeva, Head of the Trade and Economic Commission of Russia and Egypt, and the representative of the Union of Arab Women Investors in Russia, businesswomen and businessmen, investors and investors.
Major General Sherif El Mawardy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian General Authority for Exhibitions and Conferences, said that the protocol includes cooperation and preparation for the Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Summit, which in turn aims to open new markets for trade exchange and build bridges of cooperation between Arab and African countries.
He pointed out that the Authority’s activity since its establishment in 1956 has been to hold or participate in exhibitions and conferences and represent the Egyptian government in issuing and granting licenses for holding exhibitions and conferences, as this important economic activity represents a supportive service for governments, companies, bodies and organizations, as it represents the most important means of communication between businesses compared to other means of communication. The exhibitions and conferences industry is a locomotive for driving the wheel of economic activity and increasing the percentage of Egyptian exports in international markets.
He stressed that the Authority is working continuously to contribute to supporting local companies to expand and enter foreign markets, as we work to enhance the role of conference and exhibition tourism and its contribution to the national economy and achieve sustainable economic development.
He pointed out that the agreement includes promoting exhibitions organized by the two parties in a way that achieves the main desired goal, which is to achieve sustainable development.
Major General Sherif El-Mawardy revealed that preparations are underway to hold an exhibition in Russia entitled “Made in Egypt” to promote local and Arab products, in cooperation with the BRICS countries and in full partnership with the Arab Women Investors Union in the coming period.
El-Mawardy explained that the Russia exhibition comes to activate the plan to benefit from Egypt’s membership in BRICS and to enter those markets to increase local exports.
He pointed out that the Russia exhibition will be held in cooperation with the BRICS Committee of the Union, headed by Ms. Elena Matieva, as well as the participation of all committees and members of the Union.
He continued that preparations will also be made to hold an exhibition for the BRICS countries in Egypt to activate trade exchange operations and achieve competitive advantages for the local product in those exhibitions and markets, as part of the strategy to activate exhibitions and for Egypt to become the capital of exhibitions and conferences in the region.
For her part, Dr. Hoda Yassa said that the exhibition will be held during the upcoming 28th session of the Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Summit, which will be held in Russia, and will include projects with various activities.
The head of the Arab Women Investors Union said during her speech at the protocol signing ceremony that special facilities will be provided to the joint founding companies through the exhibition.
Dr. Hoda Yassa shed light on the themes and objectives of the “Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation” summit under the slogan “Economic ties… industry… tourism… agriculture… comprehensive sustainable development”, which includes opening various markets to Egyptian products with global quality and specifications to Arab and African countries in order to achieve the state’s target plan of $145 billion by 2030.
She said that all investment incentives in the new government will be promoted and presented to various entities, as well as the investment opportunities available in Egypt, giant development projects, and new developments in the attractive investment climate.
Yassa pointed out that with the start of activating Egypt’s accession to the BRICS countries at the beginning of this year, the summit will discuss mechanisms for building investment and economic bridges between all parties participating in the conference activities. In support of joint investment, trade exchange, development and tourism activation, in cooperation with senior officials and investors at the international level, especially the BRICS countries and Russia.
She added that the Arab and African Investment and International Cooperation Summit will discuss the tourism activation file and its various tributaries and review the “For You, My Country, Our Arab Unity and Our International Cooperation” initiative, with its various religious, therapeutic, educational and cultural sectors, in support of the sector due to its direct impact on industrial and economic development in general.
In response to journalists’ questions about the new developments in the 27th session of the Union’s conference, Dr. Hoda Yassa said that there are many new activities, including the attendance of representatives of the success partners with the Arab Women Investors Union, from officials of the Arab Republic of Egypt , with whom cooperation agreements were signed, including the National Authority for Management and Investment, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, and the Ministry of Finance, Investor Services Support Department. The 10th of Ramadan Investors Association, the Egyptian-Saudi Alliance, and other officials of many agreements related to African, Arab and international countries.
In response to a question about the role of the Investment Summit in promoting tourism in Aswan Governorate, Hoda Yassa indicated that the summit program includes many activities for the participating delegations to get to know the most important tourist areas in the governorate. 
She stated that the summit will begin with a distinctive Pharaonic show, holding an official dinner party at the famous Philae Temple, the historical legend, and inspecting rare pieces from history dating back 7,000 years, and organizing a Nile cruise on the immortal Nile of Egypt, through a procession of sailboats to the Philae Temple carrying the flags of the participating countries. And holding the Aswan Festival for Horse-drawn Carriages and Nubian Heritage, and organizing a sports marathon for the participating delegations.
The Arab Women Investors Union Summit is working – in coordination with the Businesswomen’s Association for Development and with the participation and sponsorship of the Ministries of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Industry and Transport, Health and Population, Environment, Water Resources and Irrigation, and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency affiliated with the Cabinet, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the Council of Arab Economic Unity emanating from the League of Arab States, Aswan Governorate, and the General Union of Civil Associations and Institutions including 40,000 civil associates.
