Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
Investment promotion agencies can be “a key player” in the revitalization of trade between African countries which are below the existing potential and above all far from the ambitions displayed. This is said of the Director General of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AAPI), Omar Rekkache, at the opening of the mini-Sommet of African Investment Promotion Agency, organized yesterday at Palais des Expositions d’Algiers, in parallel with the holding of the intra-African trade fair (IATF 2025).
Affirming that the volume of intra-African trade reached in 2024, around 208 billion dollars, $ 15% of the continent’s total trade, Rekkach wanted to point out that this rate remains “below the ambitions displayed” and above all of the existing potential.
Investment promotion agencies are therefore called upon to play a large pivotal role in order to energize trade in the continent and the promotion of investment flows. The Director General of AAPI has, in this sense, highlighted the “central role” of these agencies which can “be a key player in the revitalization of intra-African trade and the strengthening of investment flows”. This, he explained, “by providing reliable information, promoting the potentialities and available investment opportunities, encouraging partnerships, facilitating business, in addition to the support of Africa’s integration into global value chains”.
With this in mind, Mr. Rekkache underlined the commitment of the Algerian investment promotion agency which he directs to play “a central role” to promote coordination between the other African investment promotion agencies, so “to acquire the best world practices to adapt them to the specificities of our continent”, he said. The AAPI also says it is ready, according to its first official, to jointly promote the potential, the advantages and investment opportunities that Africa conceals. An approach that will notably be able to expand the volume of trade between African countries.
Expressing his wish to see this mini-summit constitute a starting point to establish the basics of a permanent African mechanism for coordination and consultation between the investment promotion agencies, the Director General of the AAPI also highlighted the determination of Algeria “to be a central player in the dynamics of African integration”. This could be materialized through “the development of basic infrastructure, the support of investment projects and commercial partnerships capable of strengthening regional economic integration,” he said.
Note that this mini-summit of investment agencies was organized by the AAPI, in coordination with the African import-export bank (Afreximbank), with the support of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (Waipa).