Luanda: The Business Forum between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) was inaugurated on Monday in Luanda by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Jos© de Lima Massano. This significant event serves as a precursor to the 7th Summit of the two intercontinental blocs.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the forum gathers at least 600 participants, including business leaders, investors, and government officials from Africa and Europe. Its primary aim is to promote economic cooperation and investment between the two continents, explore investment opportunities, present projects, and identify viable outcomes to unlock more funding.
The summit, scheduled to last two days (24 and 25), features high-level panels focusing on financing, digital connections, and transport and logistics. The official opening ceremony of the Summit is slated for Monday afternoon in Luanda, expecting to host two thousand delegates, including Heads of State and Government and representatives of multilateral organizations.
The 7th AU-EU Summit will convene under the theme "Promoting Peace and Prosperity Through Effective Multilateralism". It will be co-chaired by the Angolan Head of State and current President of the African Union (AU), Joo Louren§o, and the President of the European Council, Ant³nio Costa. The Summit will also welcome the presence of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
The event underscores the pursuit of a strong, balanced, and future-oriented partnership between Africa and Europe. The AU-EU Summit, held every three years, alternates between the two continents. This year's gathering includes 68 delegations from 76 states and the participation of 15 European Heads of State or Government, along with the UN Secretary-General, Ant³nio Guterres. The Summit returns to Africa eight years after the 5th Summit, which took place on November 29 and 30, 2017, in Abidjan, C´te d'Ivoire.
During the two-day event, heads of state will engage in thematic sessions to discuss strengthening cooperation in key areas such as peace, security, governance, multilateralism, threats, people, migration, and mobility. The Summit not only aims to reinforce 25 years of cooperation but also coincides with Angola's 50th anniversary of National Independence, celebrated earlier this month, and Angola's current rotating Presidency of the African Union.
The inaugural Summit in 2000 in Cairo, Egypt, marked the official establishment of the partnership between the AU and the EU.
