The Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation is making final preparations for the 2018 Africa Forum next week, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and attended by more than 3,000 business leaders, investors, and officials from African countries.

The forum aims at laying the basis for a common vision for the African continent future, presenting major projects, discussing establishing a developed African economic system and helping governments to create new opportunities for investment and integrating women into comprehensive economic development to face global challenges.

The forum will also focus on the role of women and increase their participation in Sustainable economic development programs.

Dr. Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, said that Egypt's hosting of the Forum promotes its position as a regional center for trade and investment in Africa, pointing out that the forum program devoted Young Entrepreneurs Day (YED) to discuss how to benefit from their outstanding performance in supporting African development plans.

For her part, Heba Salama, head of COMESA's regional investment agency, said that Egypt keens to host the forum and this reflects its vital role as a strategic gateway for Africa and affirms its commitment to developing the continent at this important time.

She pointed out that The Forum is under the title of bold leadership and collective commitment: Advancing Intra-African Investments, which reflects the proactive interaction of Egypt with the continent in preparation for chairing the African Union in 2019, and highlights Egypt's commitment to resolving the African continent issues.