MALABO, July 13 (MENA) - President of the African Business Council Amany Asfour asserted that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi played a pivotal role in developing Africa’s infrastructure during Egypt’s chairmanship of the African Union.

She emphasized that investment in infrastructure is crucial to enhancing intra-African trade.

In statements to Nile News Channel on Sunday, Asfour noted that the Mid-Year Coordination Summit of the African Union is focusing on achieving continental integration through the unification of projects aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063 for development.

She added that, on the sidelines of the summit, several important events are taking place involving the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional economic communities such as COMESA, ECOWAS, IGAD and various African business councils.

The events aim to coordinate and connect all projects in a way that drives sustainable development across the continent.

Asfour highlighted that discussions are underway regarding the role of African economic blocs in advancing development and how to finance a wide range of African projects.

She pointed out that there are currently over 300 projects across sectors like energy, agriculture, technology and infrastructure that are in urgent need of funding.

She stressed the vital role of the African private sector, underlining the importance of empowering it by building capacity, enacting supportive legislation and developing an enabling legal environment.

She emphasized the need to add value to African products to make them more competitive and of higher quality, which, she said, requires linking industrial production with science and technology. (MENA)

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